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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rpgHQ" data-source="post: 938526" data-attributes="member: 12219">not trying to start a flame war or anything but under US copyright laws theres nothing to stop oyu from using a monster name in your own publications. However if you are publishing something under the terms of the d20stl you are binding yourself to a license agreement and certain things you could have done are no longer possible.Not sure how publishing under the OGL by itself WITHOUT use of the d20stl works as the 'rights' granted under the OGL are already covered by copyright law. Anyhow go to <a href="http://www.copyright.gov" target="_blank">http://www.copyright.gov</a> and check it out and more importantly the factsheets.I guess it also depends on how your using the monster names in your publication.But unless the companies have trademarked the monster names you can use them in your own works.Now before this gets into a flamewar or just nasty postings please visit <a href="http://www.copyright.gov" target="_blank">http://www.copyright.gov</a> and persue the information there.For example you could not copyright the names/words elf or demon or devil. And using the example in a prior posting the name/word 'blade demon' could not be copyrighted either. However the description, explanation, or illustration of the blade demon CAN be copyrighted. It is the words 'blade demon' and the idea and concept implied by it that can NOT be copyrighted.And of course a name/word can be trademarked undr specific conditions and for specific uses. Anyhow as suggested you should get permission from the original creator of the monster, especially if your publishing under the OGL and/or d20stl. Makes it all nice and clean that way, and is good business practice if your going to start publishing rpg material and want to stay on friendly terms with other publishers.</blockquote>

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