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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rpgHQ" data-source="post: 1269043" data-attributes="member: 12219">The way the OGL works you can PI a monster name and other things you would expect to be non-copyrightable. Some publishers make the monster name open content and some PI the monster name. Technically statistical information is non-copyrightable but as you say, the wording in the OGL has loopholes in it and I think the definitions in it allow for publishers to PI certain types of statblocks. Casting a spell is part of the mechanics and methods of a game system. However the descriptive text describing a spell and how it is cast and its effects would fall under copyright and with the OGL you can PI it. Again some publishers leave this open, while others PI it. Humaniod would be a race type and is a function of the games methods and mechanics. A monster name is not copyrightable but could be trademarked under certain situations, but like I said above the way the OGL defines PI you can make a monster name closed content.When you say material I assume you mean descriptive text? That is the text that describes a campaign setting, or feat, spell, race or what not outside the statistical information? That all is copyrightable and falls under the PI definition in the OGL.Though you could argue things like under feats where you have that one liner that sums up the feat before going ito the full description of the feat. That little one-liner could fall under the terms of copyright law talking about short phrases(when not  under context of the OGL), but probably you could still go to court over it and it could go either way. Of course under the OGL its covered by the definition of PI and a publisher can make it open or closed content.Not sure if that rambled way I responded to your questions helped any or not.Also the way the OGL talks about derivative work doesnt change the way copyright laws effect derivative works. The way they placed it and worded it in the OGL just leads to a bit of confusion. Copyright laws on derivative works doesnt apply to game mechanics or methods, but to the descriptive text. That is campaign setting, storylines, plots, the 'fluff' text and text describing thngs like races, feats, spells. That type of material. And the statement on deriviative works in the OGL doesnt change that, even though the way they placed and worded it in there might seem otherwise.</blockquote>

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