WotC Frylock's Gaming & Geekery Challenges WotC's Copyright Claims

[AriochQ]

I am disappointed by the response to my post. Not taking oneself too seriously is one thing, but openly posting to antagonize a person's request for better behavior is poor form.

The internet requires a certain dermal density.

 

[Reynard]

The weirdest thing about this story to me is the discovery that the cyclops is not in the SRD. I mean, why?

 

[tomBitonti]

Frylock makes the case that a single word no matter how creative cannot be copryrighted, trademarked yes but not copyrighted. I have no idea if this is true however.

In fact that's the whole crux of his point. A discernible statblock must be so simple as to be completely uncopyrightable.

This popcorn is delicious btw,

I probably misspoke. I thought that "Illithid" was off limits. Maybe that's a trademark issue? Or the protection was something special to the OGL?

But, I dont buy his argument. He might be correct, and I'll allow that he is practically speaking, but his argument is dubious. He argues that if single words were copyrightable, eventually, we would lose the right to speak, because too many words would be protected. But, if copyrightable words are sufficiently rare, the argument fails.

Thx!
TomB

 

[Dausuul]

I am disappointed by the response to my post. Not taking oneself too seriously is one thing, but openly posting to antagonize a person's request for better behavior is poor form.

I could be wrong, but I believe the people who are continuing to crack lawyer jokes are the ones who actually are lawyers.

 

[tomBitonti]

But, is that a copyright issue or a trademark issue? See Trademark Fun - McDonald's v. McDowell's | Widerman Malek, PL

As a trademark issue, its a gimme.

Thx!
TomB

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Beleriphon]

But, is that a copyright issue or a trademark issue? See Trademark Fun - McDonald's v. McDowell's | Widerman Malek, PL

As a trademark issue, its a gimme.

Thx!
TomB

That one is a trademark issue. McDonald's Corp can copyright a yellow m shape, but they can trademark that specific shape and colour combination. See my previous example of Superman. Now I was actually wrong about it expiring, but it will expire in 2033, however the trademark shield will continue as long as DC keeps using it, and more importantly registering it. Nobody can realistically produce a comic with Superman in it without using the shield as it will instantly be recognized as some off brand attempt at Superman.

Depending on other factors you can get into trade dress, but I'm no where near familiar enough with the relevant material. Particularly since I'm not American.

 

[BookBarbarian]

I could be wrong, but I believe the people who are continuing to crack lawyer jokes are the ones who actually are lawyers.

Or trolls.

Watch out for copyrighting our statblocks though.

 

[Parmandur]

Or trolls.

Watch out for copyrighting our statblocks though.

Don't be racist: Trolls can be lawyers too.