Different philosophies concerning Rules Heavy and Rule Light RPGs.

[Umbran]

Designers steal ideas? Openly? Umm where do I begin? I mean to some degree it falls in a legal "recipe copyright" zone...That I understand, and as someone who has copyright in multiple countries, I can say that openly admitting to stealing other peoples IP is an unwise move.

So, just to note:
Copyright applies to specific expressions, not to "ideas". Moreover, copyright does not apply to systems, processes, or rules themselves - only to a specific expression of them.

Thus, yes, designers use each other's ideas all the time. This summer, I played a one-shot of Draw Steel!, which has a negotiation mechanic that bears a significant resemblance to a negotiation mechanic in an earlier game - Savage Worlds Adventurers Edition, whose negotiating mechanic bears a striking resemblance to a yet-earlier mechanic from a prior game...

The question for designers is not, "Did you get that idea from someone else?" The question is, "In the process, did you make it your own?"

 

[aramis erak]

So, just to note:
Copyright applies to specific expressions, not to "ideas". Moreover, copyright does not apply to systems, processes, or rules themselves - only to a specific expression of them.

Note that that's true for the Commonwealth nations and the US, and some others; France and Germany both have far more extensive creator's rights.

 

[Umbran]

Note that that's true for the Commonwealth nations and the US, and some others;

Yes, I was speaking to US copyright.

 

[1QD]

To quote half a dozen professors at two different institutions I have attended:
"One source is plagiarism. Three or more is research."

A few have also said, "0 sources is ignorance." One said "No sources is fiction." (He was a practicing lawyer.) But even most fiction authors do research.

And no one who's played any RPG is free of RPG influence in any RPG they later design.

Then willful ignorance it is then.... The counter of which, I am not in a university or like environment, so it is far less of a deal.

 

[1QD]

So, just to note:
Copyright applies to specific expressions, not to "ideas". Moreover, copyright does not apply to systems, processes, or rules themselves - only to a specific expression of them.

Thus, yes, designers use each other's ideas all the time. This summer, I played a one-shot of Draw Steel!, which has a negotiation mechanic that bears a significant resemblance to a negotiation mechanic in an earlier game - Savage Worlds Adventurers Edition, whose negotiating mechanic bears a striking resemblance to a yet-earlier mechanic from a prior game...

The question for designers is not, "Did you get that idea from someone else?" The question is, "In the process, did you make it your own?"

I am aware, that said, if you are taking an idea and making your own, it is indeed the spirit of the action I call into question. I too am influenced by the games I played. I too have made it my own, but I sought to avoid other systems and make it my own, because in the spirit of what I was doing I did not want to be influenced by others. By happenstance some of what I do will cross over to others whom have come before me, but I can honestly state, it was not by intention. I did not seek the work of others which to me, is where the harm mostly originates from. I have copyright in 2 countries, as well as trademark in my own country. As a non-educated individual in these arenas, I'd say I am not doing too badly, and have educated myself as to what is covered. I am not denying the fact that copyright covers only soo much, I am saying the spirit of what I did was pure, and to the best of my own ability, original.