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Old 28th June 2008, 11:39 PM   #1 (permalink)
pbrink
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lidingö, Sweden, Europe
Posts: 11
pbrink Goblin Sharpshooter (Lvl 2)
Trademarks and RPG:s

Forked from: OGL 4E question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sacrificial Lamb
Game mechanics for roleplaying games cannot be copyrighted. As long as you don't violate any of WoTC's trademarks, and write the game in your own words, you could theoretically create a 4e-ish game with or without using the OGL. [my emphasis]
I've seen a lot of claims that WotC owns trademark rights to words and/or terms used in the D&D rules over the years and I frankly don't understand what those rights could possibly be. Someone who acts in a commercial context may assert any trademark rights he wants, but as long as those words, terms or symbols are not used as trademarks those claims are not worth a fart. So I wonder - why do people think WotC owns any trademarks related to D&D (beyond Dungeons & Dragons)?

Last edited by pbrink; 29th June 2008 at 12:19 AM..
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