vigames
Villager
Interesting, it was one of the first monsters I used in 1e because it didn't do enough damage to accidentally kill anyone with one hit.
D&D General What monster names are public domain?
- Thread starter Morrus
- Start date
Paul Farquhar
Legend
It's a list of things WotC thought at one time they might be able to protect. It's not a list of things they are sure they can protect (there is no such list), and it's not a list of things they think are necessarily important.
They are probably wrong with the carrion crawler. It is too similar to real world insects, and the name is too descriptive, for them to have much of a chance. But it's really all bluff. How important are carrion crawlers to you that you want to give all you money to a lawyer over?
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For those of us who started with the Mentzer basic red box, the carrion crawler was quite likely to be the first monster you ever encountered.
I'm not sure if the BECMI version had 8 attacks or not, but it was an "interesting" choice for the first encounter to give to a bunch of 1st level PCs and their novice players (and a novice DM, in my case).
LuisCarlos17f
Legend
Almost off-topic. All animals from the real life, and dinosaurs+megafaun from Prehistory should be in the SRD as open licence.
* Isn't it funny and ironic? Some D&D creatures are based in kaijus figure toys as monsters from Ultraman action-live show. Somebody could say those D&D monsters are plagiarism of that Japanese franchise.
* Isn't it funny and ironic? Some D&D creatures are based in kaijus figure toys as monsters from Ultraman action-live show. Somebody could say those D&D monsters are plagiarism of that Japanese franchise.
Echohawk
Shirokinukatsukami fan
Based on a hasty count and looking only at the main names on this page, I get 58% public domain names, 42% not. There are quite a few monsters that are composites of two words (hook horrors, water weirds) that I've counted as not public domain because that combination of words didn't describe a monster before D&D. I'm probably being overly conservative in counting things as not public domain when I had doubts.
Again... this was a very quick, poorly researched count, looking only at the top-level names on the list, but here's my working, so everyone can nitpick
Again... this was a very quick, poorly researched count, looking only at the top-level names on the list, but here's my working, so everyone can nitpick
| Aarakocra | Not public domain |
| Aboleth | Not public domain |
| Angels | Public domain |
| Animated Objects | Public domain |
| Ankheg | Not public domain |
| Azer | Public domain |
| Banshee | Public domain |
| Basilisk | Public domain |
| Behir | Not public domain |
| Beholders | Not public domain |
| Blights | Public domain |
| Bugbears | Public domain |
| Bulette | Not public domain |
| Bullywug | Not public domain |
| Cambion | Public domain |
| Carrion Crawler | Not public domain |
| Centaur | Public domain |
| Chimera | Public domain |
| Chuul | Not public domain |
| Cloaker | Not public domain |
| Cockatrice | Public domain |
| Couatl | Public domain |
| Crawling Claw | Not public domain |
| Cyclops | Public domain |
| Darkmantle | Not public domain |
| Death Knight | Public domain |
| Demilich | Not public domain |
| Demons | Public domain |
| Devils | Public domain |
| Dinosaurs | Public domain |
| Displacer Beast | Not public domain |
| Doppelganger | Public domain |
| Dracolich | Not public domain |
| Dragon, Shadow | Not public domain |
| Dragons | Public domain |
| Dragon Turtle | Public domain |
| Drider | Not public domain |
| Dryad | Public domain |
| Duergar | Public domain |
| Elementals | Public domain |
| Elves: Drow | Public domain |
| Empyrean | Public domain |
| Ettercap | Public domain |
| Ettin | Public domain |
| Faerie Dragon | Not public domain |
| Flameskull | Not public domain |
| Flumph | Not public domain |
| Fomorian | Public domain |
| Fungi | Public domain |
| Galeb Duhr | Not public domain |
| Gargoyle | Public domain |
| Genies | Public domain |
| Ghost | Public domain |
| Ghouls | Public domain |
| Giants | Public domain |
| Gibbering Mouther | Not public domain |
| Gith | Partly public domain (Githyanki is) |
| Gnolls | Not public domain |
| Gnome, Deep (Svirfneblin) | Not public domain |
| Goblins | Public domain |
| Golems | Public domain |
| Gorgon | Public domain |
| Grell | Not public domain |
| Gricks | Not public domain |
| Griffon | Public domain |
| Grimlock | Not public domain |
| Hags | Public domain |
| Half-Dragon | Public domain |
| Harpy | Public domain |
| Hell Hound | Public domain |
| Helmed Horror | Not public domain |
| Hippogriff | Public domain |
| Hobgoblins | Public domain |
| Homunculus | Public domain |
| Hook Horror | Not public domain |
| Hydra | Public domain |
| Intellect Devourer | Not public domain |
| Invisible Stalker | Not public domain |
| Jackalwere | Public domain |
| Kenku | Not public domain |
| Kobolds | Public domain |
| Kraken | Public domain |
| Kuo-toa | Not public domain |
| Lamia | Public domain |
| Lich | Public domain |
| Lizardfolk | Public domain |
| Lycanthropes | Public domain |
| Magmin | Not public domain |
| Manticore | Public domain |
| Medusa | Public domain |
| Mephits | Not public domain |
| Merfolk | Public domain |
| Merrow | Public domain |
| Mimic | Not public domain |
| Mind Flayer | Not public domain |
| Minotaur | Public domain |
| Modrons | Not public domain |
| Mummies | Public domain |
| Myconids | Not public domain |
| Nagas | Public domain |
| Nightmare | Public domain |
| Nothic | Not public domain |
| Ogres | Public domain |
| Oni | Public domain |
| Oozes | Public domain |
| Orcs | Public domain |
| Otyugh | Not public domain |
| Owlbear | Not public domain |
| Pegasus | Public domain |
| Peryton | Public domain |
| Piercer | Not public domain |
| Pixie | Public domain |
| Pseudodragon | Not public domain |
| Purple Worm | Not public domain |
| Quaggoth | Not public domain |
| Rakshasa | Public domain |
| Remorhazes | Not public domain |
| Revenant | Public domain |
| Roc | Public domain |
| Roper | Not public domain |
| Rust Monster | Not public domain |
| Sahuagin | Not public domain |
| Salamanders | Public domain |
| Satyr | Public domain |
| Scarecrow | Public domain |
| Shadow | Public domain |
| Shambling Mound | Not public domain |
| Shield Guardian | Not public domain |
| Skeletons | Public domain |
| Slaadi | Not public domain |
| Specter | Public domain |
| Sphinxes | Public domain |
| Sprite | Public domain |
| Stirge | Not public domain |
| Succubus/Incubus | Public domain |
| Tarrasque | Public domain |
| Thri-kreen | Not public domain |
| Treant | Not public domain |
| Troglodyte | Public domain |
| Troll | Public domain |
| Umber Hulk | Not public domain |
| Unicorn | Public domain |
| Vampires | Public domain |
| Water Weird | Not public domain |
| Wight | Public domain |
| Will-o’-wisp | Public domain |
| Wraith | Public domain |
| Wyvern | Public domain |
| Xorn | Not public domain |
| Yetis | Public domain |
| Yuan-ti | Not public domain |
| Yugoloths | Not public domain |
| Zombies | Public domain |
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Gradine
The Elephant in the Room (she/they)
Solid list, though off the top of my head, there's no way that Coautls and Pegasus aren't public domainBased on a hasty count and looking only at the main names on this page, I get 58% public domain names, 42% not. There are quite a few monsters that are composites of two words (hook horrors, water weirds) that I've counted as not public domain because that combination of words didn't describe a monster before D&D. I'm probably being overly conservative in counting things as not public domain when I had doubts.
Again... this was a very quick, poorly researched count, looking only at the top-level names on the list, but here's my working, so everyone can nitpick
Aarakocra Not public domain Aboleth Not public domain Angels Public domain Animated Objects Public domain Ankheg Not public domain Azer Public domain Banshee Public domain Basilisk Public domain Behir Not public domain Beholders Not public domain Blights Public domain Bugbears Public domain Bulette Not public domain Bullywug Not public domain Cambion Public domain Carrion Crawler Public domain Centaur Public domain Chimera Public domain Chuul Not public domain Cloaker Not public domain Cockatrice Public domain Couatl Not public domain Crawling Claw Not public domain Cyclops Public domain Darkmantle Not public domain Death Knight Not public domain Demilich Not public domain Demons Public domain Devils Public domain Dinosaurs Public domain Displacer Beast Not public domain Doppelganger Public domain Dracolich Not public domain Dragon, Shadow Not public domain Dragons Public domain Dragon Turtle Public domain Drider Not public domain Dryad Public domain Duergar Public domain Elementals Public domain Elves: Drow Public domain Empyrean Public domain Ettercap Public domain Ettin Public domain Faerie Dragon Not public domain Flameskull Not public domain Flumph Not public domain Fomorian Public domain Fungi Public domain Galeb Duhr Not public domain Gargoyle Public domain Genies Public domain Ghost Public domain Ghouls Public domain Giants Public domain Gibbering Mouther Not public domain Gith Partly public domain (Githyanki is) Gnolls Not public domain Gnome, Deep (Svirfneblin) Not public domain Goblins Public domain Golems Public domain Gorgon Public domain Grell Not public domain Gricks Not public domain Griffon Public domain Grimlock Not public domain Hags Public domain Half-Dragon Public domain Harpy Public domain Hell Hound Public domain Helmed Horror Not public domain Hippogriff Public domain Hobgoblins Public domain Homunculus Public domain Hook Horror Not public domain Hydra Public domain Intellect Devourer Not public domain Invisible Stalker Not public domain Jackalwere Public domain Kenku Not public domain Kobolds Public domain Kraken Public domain Kuo-toa Not public domain Lamia Public domain Lich Public domain Lizardfolk Public domain Lycanthropes Public domain Magmin Not public domain Manticore Public domain Medusa Public domain Mephits Not public domain Merfolk Public domain Merrow Public domain Mimic Not public domain Mind Flayer Not public domain Minotaur Public domain Modrons Not public domain Mummies Public domain Myconids Not public domain Nagas Public domain Nightmare Public domain Nothic Not public domain Ogres Public domain Oni Public domain Oozes Public domain Orcs Public domain Otyugh Not public domain Owlbear Not public domain Pegasus Not public domain Peryton Public domain Piercer Not public domain Pixie Public domain Pseudodragon Not public domain Purple Worm Not public domain Quaggoth Not public domain Rakshasa Public domain Remorhazes Not public domain Revenant Public domain Roc Public domain Roper Not public domain Rust Monster Not public domain Sahuagin Not public domain Salamanders Public domain Satyr Public domain Scarecrow Public domain Shadow Public domain Shambling Mound Not public domain Shield Guardian Not public domain Skeletons Public domain Slaadi Not public domain Specter Public domain Sphinxes Public domain Sprite Public domain Stirge Not public domain Succubus/Incubus Public domain Tarrasque Public domain Thri-kreen Not public domain Treant Not public domain Troglodyte Public domain Troll Public domain Umber Hulk Not public domain Unicorn Public domain Vampires Public domain Water Weird Not public domain Wight Public domain Will-o’-wisp Public domain Wraith Public domain Wyvern Public domain Xorn Not public domain Yetis Public domain Yuan-ti Not public domain Yugoloths Not public domain Zombies Public domain
Echohawk
Shirokinukatsukami fan
I have no idea how I misfiled the poor pegasus, but I'm not convinced about the couatl. The name coatl is public domain, but the couatl spelling seems to be D&D specific.
Bacon Bits
Hero
Based on a hasty count and looking only at the main names on this page, I get 58% public domain names, 42% not. There are quite a few monsters that are composites of two words (hook horrors, water weirds) that I've counted as not public domain because that combination of words didn't describe a monster before D&D. I'm probably being overly conservative in counting things as not public domain when I had doubts.
Again... this was a very quick, poorly researched count, looking only at the top-level names on the list, but here's my working, so everyone can nitpick
Aarakocra Not public domain Aboleth Not public domain Angels Public domain Animated Objects Public domain Ankheg Not public domain Azer Public domain Banshee Public domain Basilisk Public domain Behir Not public domain Beholders Not public domain Blights Public domain Bugbears Public domain Bulette Not public domain Bullywug Not public domain Cambion Public domain Carrion Crawler Public domain Centaur Public domain Chimera Public domain Chuul Not public domain Cloaker Not public domain Cockatrice Public domain Couatl Not public domain Crawling Claw Not public domain Cyclops Public domain Darkmantle Not public domain Death Knight Not public domain Demilich Not public domain Demons Public domain Devils Public domain Dinosaurs Public domain Displacer Beast Not public domain Doppelganger Public domain Dracolich Not public domain Dragon, Shadow Not public domain Dragons Public domain Dragon Turtle Public domain Drider Not public domain Dryad Public domain Duergar Public domain Elementals Public domain Elves: Drow Public domain Empyrean Public domain Ettercap Public domain Ettin Public domain Faerie Dragon Not public domain Flameskull Not public domain Flumph Not public domain Fomorian Public domain Fungi Public domain Galeb Duhr Not public domain Gargoyle Public domain Genies Public domain Ghost Public domain Ghouls Public domain Giants Public domain Gibbering Mouther Not public domain Gith Partly public domain (Githyanki is) Gnolls Not public domain Gnome, Deep (Svirfneblin) Not public domain Goblins Public domain Golems Public domain Gorgon Public domain Grell Not public domain Gricks Not public domain Griffon Public domain Grimlock Not public domain Hags Public domain Half-Dragon Public domain Harpy Public domain Hell Hound Public domain Helmed Horror Not public domain Hippogriff Public domain Hobgoblins Public domain Homunculus Public domain Hook Horror Not public domain Hydra Public domain Intellect Devourer Not public domain Invisible Stalker Not public domain Jackalwere Public domain Kenku Not public domain Kobolds Public domain Kraken Public domain Kuo-toa Not public domain Lamia Public domain Lich Public domain Lizardfolk Public domain Lycanthropes Public domain Magmin Not public domain Manticore Public domain Medusa Public domain Mephits Not public domain Merfolk Public domain Merrow Public domain Mimic Not public domain Mind Flayer Not public domain Minotaur Public domain Modrons Not public domain Mummies Public domain Myconids Not public domain Nagas Public domain Nightmare Public domain Nothic Not public domain Ogres Public domain Oni Public domain Oozes Public domain Orcs Public domain Otyugh Not public domain Owlbear Not public domain Pegasus Not public domain Peryton Public domain Piercer Not public domain Pixie Public domain Pseudodragon Not public domain Purple Worm Not public domain Quaggoth Not public domain Rakshasa Public domain Remorhazes Not public domain Revenant Public domain Roc Public domain Roper Not public domain Rust Monster Not public domain Sahuagin Not public domain Salamanders Public domain Satyr Public domain Scarecrow Public domain Shadow Public domain Shambling Mound Not public domain Shield Guardian Not public domain Skeletons Public domain Slaadi Not public domain Specter Public domain Sphinxes Public domain Sprite Public domain Stirge Not public domain Succubus/Incubus Public domain Tarrasque Public domain Thri-kreen Not public domain Treant Not public domain Troglodyte Public domain Troll Public domain Umber Hulk Not public domain Unicorn Public domain Vampires Public domain Water Weird Not public domain Wight Public domain Will-o’-wisp Public domain Wraith Public domain Wyvern Public domain Xorn Not public domain Yetis Public domain Yuan-ti Not public domain Yugoloths Not public domain Zombies Public domain
Carrion Crawler is one of the specifically claimed Product Identities in the OGL 1.0a SRD v5.1, so I would question that being in the public domain. It's a pretty weak name, but it's probably protected.
Couatl is the Aztec name for a day of the week, also meaning serpent or twin.
Death knight as a name is a little... dubious as copyrightable, IMO. Blizzard has used the term in Warcraft.
Demons and devils are public domain, but the anti-satanic panic 2e AD&D names are protected. Some names like Balor are somewhat questionable, since they're literally knock-offs of Balrogs. Treant is similarly a knock-off Ent.
Kenku not public domain, but they're literally tengu from Japanese myth.
Pegasus is pubic domain. It's the name of the winged horse from the Greek myth of Perseus.
A lot of the names are very minimally creative. I'm not sure how much protection they could get. Shadow dragon, faerie dragon, water weird, pseudodragon, shield guardian, purple worm, rust monster, shambling mound, invisible stalker. Some of them might stand up, but as names they're not particularly more creative than "red dragon". If the name is just an adjective and a generic monster name, that makes it harder. Vermithrax Pejorative? Oh yeah, that's creative. Shivan Dragon? Yes, sure. Shadow dragon? Eh....
Heroes of Might and Magic has death knights as well.
Pathfinder uses Graveknight instead.
In some cases, I think it is the name + concept that is copyrightable. I don't think WotC could stop you having a carrion crawler under general copyright law (despite them claiming it as product identity - it's another matter if you are using the OGL, of course) since it's a fairly generic name, provided it was sufficiently a different take on the monster.
However, in most cases the name isn't worth much without the concept behind it.
Also, they claimed Githyanki as product identity in the 3rd edition Monster Manual, but the actual word comes from a George RR Martin story (where it had a very, very brief description, along the lines of "psionic assassin"), so it's not as if WotC are 100% accurate in identifying their own IP either.
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