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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kenmarable" data-source="post: 3849850" data-attributes="member: 40359">How does that term help the open gaming community? Really, I am interested to hear how it does help. It's a marketing term, nothing more, nothing less.First off, is it the publishers or the consumers? Two very different groups that could fall under the "open gaming community" label.As for publishers, is EN Publishing losing sales because people are saying "You know, those books sound interesting, but I really wish it were an adventure path." I don't see using the generic term as having any significant impact on publishers.Paizo has some brand identity there, and it helps them to trademark it and build that brand identity.Allowing other companies to use that term dilutes Paizo's brand, but doesn't really lift the other companies up at all. I would see that as a net loss. There is far more value produced if the term is a trademark that Paizo can build upon than if it is a generic term that any company can use. There are many, many generic terms that can be used for this same purpose.As for consumers, a registered trademark in no way takes it away from us. It doesn't restrict our use anymore than asking someone to give me a Kleenex. To think that we as consumers are somehow harmed by this is pretty silly in my opinion.So to flip it around, here are my questions:Where is the confusion in the community?Why take the term away from Paizo in the first place?How does this support the open gaming community if they give the term to other publishers?</blockquote>

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