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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rpgHQ" data-source="post: 939072" data-attributes="member: 12219">Jim:The guy was talking about monster names not the description, explanation, or illustration. And in that context I was saying the current US copyright laws cover him. The monsters name could be covered by trademark laws which is covered by the OGL's definition of "PI".  But not under copyright law. Also the ability scores, dc's, saving throws, and so on are game mechanics. Game mechanics arevery clearly covered under the US copyright laws as NON copyrightable. One might say the ability scores, stats and so are descriptive expression but they are also the idea, system, and method of a game system, and as far as I know the copyright laws in the US pertaining to such game mechanics have not been challenged or revised.However the descriptive text used to describe the monster is very much copyright material. So if you happen to take an enitre monster writeup out of someone elses work and pasted it into your work that would be another story, that would be copyright infringement. But thats all besides the point, like I said before, if the person is using the d20stl and/or OGL then they are bound by the limitations and requirements as set forth in those documents. And since I dont want to get into a flamewar/debate I'll keep my mouth shut about how the OGL 'Definitions' section is worded. But I would say if the OGL was ever challenged in court they would be using the reformation clause they tacked on the end of it very fast.Anyhow,  I'll refer folks to <a href="http://www.copyright.gov" target="_blank">http://www.copyright.gov</a> and more specifically to their factsheets. Its good reading.</blockquote>

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