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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ralts Bloodthorne" data-source="post: 872851" data-attributes="member: 6390">OK, the whole thing I was talking about was this...I left some spellnames PI.If they do what everyone keeps mentioning it's not theft, and listing the proper information in Section 15, that's fine, even though I prefer that they asked, so I can keep records and inform them on erratta, expansion, or anything else they might want to know.I didn't accuse him of bad ethics. He believes slightly different than I do. That's not bad. It's different. I was just trying to lay down: "You believe differently than I, that is fine."I'm not saying: "Don't ever use my stuff. It's my precious!"over and over it was stated: "As long as they list you in thier Section 15, it is not stealing."That's what I'm saying.Some how or another, this turned into a near rant, and a near flame war.Let me sum it up, real simply...I PI'd some of the spell NAMES.I PI'd some of the events, places, and fiction.I don't claim to own the mechanics. I understand that anything created based upon the SRD or any OGC mechanics is not mine.I DO claim to own certian names and works of fiction.I would prefer if people contacted me before reusing my stuff, so that I can inform them of updates, erratta, etc. I contact everyone I can. I do this for different reasons.Apparently, people feel I called Joel unethical. Gee, what would be unethical about it?He renames the work. Just quietly drops the Section 15 to into his. Reprints, knowing full well that the completely OGC, non-PI'd version will be reused far more often, ANY work (I used spells for an example, not trying to start any flame wars over anything, honestly) is unethical in my views.Sure, it's allowable according to OGL, but in my view, it would still be unethical.Since none of it was about "Joe's Book of Enchantments" (which I've never even read nor do I own) or his writing practices, I don't feel I was rude to him. If he feels I am being rude to him, he is free to contact me about it, and I'll ethier explain my viewpoint, and/or offer a public apology.So he doesn't see things the same way I do. No problem.I wasn't rude, I wasn't flaming. I was pointing out that our ethics differ.What disturbs me, is some who have replied feel that I am stating "Never use my stuff, get away from my precious" and have totally glossed over my reasons, my personal business practices and ethics for preferring to be asked.Due credit is the proper Section 15. If you use something created by someone else, and credit them in Section 15, then you are giving them due credit.Oh, and sorry, I meant to say "purchased the proper business liscenses and filed for... blah blah blah"I went back and edited it when I realized it looked like I was claiming the WotC charged for SRD usage.And yes, I am having a trademark violation problem. Not among gamers, but with something else. Do I feel I need to protect my trademarks? Before the problem started, I would have said no. Now I believe I do need to act to protect my TM's.Part of what gets me, is instead of noticing that half of what I was talking about, I was claiming as my personal beliefs and ethics, everyone immediately decided to beat it out of me.Forget it. My ethics say: "Communications, permissions, and procedures." I'm not going to change the way I feel, but I'm certianly not going to insist that everyone act the same way I do.I don't know Joe that well, and outside of this, we would probably have no problem. He sees things differently than I do. I'm not bashing him, and frankly, I take offense that because my opinion is different than his, I'm accused of rudeness. (But again, that's my problem, not anyone else's)And honestly, I don't care if it's PI, a cool name, or a new mechanic another company has devised, I will ask permission to reference, include, or build upon it. I feel that it is the right thing to do, and the professional way to behave.I'm not saying agree or disagree with me, it's just the way I feel.</blockquote>

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