Kalamar - first published 4e setting?!?

[The Little Raven]

Or are they using the "copyright lets us do it" stance?

This is the stance they seem to be taking. Hopefully, it won't bite them in the ass.

 

[hong]

And yet, A&8 won the 2007 game of the year award.

Context, for those who missed it:

So? What is one of the first things that really makes you realize your not in your native country anymore? The language the people around you are speaking. So this setting gives you lots of "foreign" words to use to help your players feel like they are in a foreign land.

Its amazing how little things like that can help players transport themselves.

Yes, they transport me to the Land of Syllables.

Tolkien got away with it because he was a professional. That doesn't mean YOU do.

 

[mhensley]

Context, for those who missed it:

Sorry hong, I'm not used to your posts having any context.

 

[hong]

I am not a context-free grammar! I am a FREE MAN!

 

[Mark Plemmons]

I'm still a bit confused over how Kenzer can do this at all. The GSL seems to forbid continuing to sell 3.5 product lines once one of the books goes 4E. Likewise, it forbids selling GSL products before 10/01/08.

Since Kenzer's special license(s) with WotC ended last November, don't they have to use the GSL like everyone else? Or are they using the "copyright lets us do it" stance? Or is there just something I'm missing?

No one "has" to use the GSL. Using the GSL gives you the right to use some exclusive logos and such, but also comes with some restrictions, like those you mentioned.

If you're familiar with copyright law, there are other options. As David Kenzer said on our boards (and keep in mind that he's a copyright/intellectual property lawyer in his day job ), "there is no "magic" restriction in IP law that restricts people from making new creative material that doesn't use any TMs, patents or copyrights of another company."

"SHould every programmer that writes a program that works with a computer have to pay the owner of the OS it runs on? I think not. I could be wrong, but fortunately, the US and International copyright laws agree with me. A world where one could not reference others' materials in their product would be a dark and sad place."

 

[Banshee16]

Those words are NOT owned by WOTC/Hasbro. They aren't owned by anyone.

Think about it, if you read lots of fantasy novels. You've seen those words before, and they were not in WOTC/D&D novels.

Maybe I haven't read the correct books, but the *only* places I've read the names Eladrin and Tiefling have been in WotC or TSR books.

Banshee

 

[grickherder]

If you're familiar with copyright law, there are other options. As David Kenzer said on our boards (and keep in mind that he's a copyright/intellectual property lawyer in his day job ), "there is no "magic" restriction in IP law that restricts people from making new creative material that doesn't use any TMs, patents or copyrights of another company."

Kudos to Kenzer & Co for using their legal rights and not kowtowing to some restrictive license that grants less rights than you already legally have.

I took a look at the preview document for Kalamar. Looks like interesting stuff. I'm generally more of an intuitive continuity guy, so I don't really go for detailed pre-designed settings though. I'll have to take a closer look and see what might be useful for ideas though.

 

[Treebore]

Maybe I haven't read the correct books, but the *only* places I've read the names Eladrin and Tiefling have been in WotC or TSR books.

Banshee

If you guys want to know what WOTC has trademarked or copyrighted they tell you in that small print in the front of their books. IF it ain't listed, you can use it. Just be as original as possible with how you use anything that WOTC also uses.

I do not understand the fear everyone has of copyright law.

I am also interested in any factual info about Paladium almost bringing WOTC to its knees. I would have thought with how closely I follow the industry I would have heard of such a thing.

Sounds like Paladium bluster to me. Any AP news releases, or similarly reliable sources, would be appreciated.

 

[Treebore]

NVM, I found the lawsuit info myself. "Brought WOTC to their knees", or any statement similar to that is HIGHLY exagerating the extent of the lawsuit.

This is according to info I found written by Kevin S. himself, in the archives of his website.

 

[mhensley]

NVM, I found the lawsuit info myself. "Brought WOTC to their knees", or any statement similar to that is HIGHLY exagerating the extent of the lawsuit.

This is according to info I found written by Kevin S. himself, in the archives of his website.

IIRC, this was also before MtG and WotC was still a tiny company with little resources.