Would this be as inappropriate as I think?

[Pramas]

May I make certain I'm understanding correctly?
I'm pretty sure what I'm hearing fits what I already thought, but I'd like to be certain.

I can produce a new OGL product tomorrow that is pretty much 100% compatible with True20 or Grim Tales CORE or whatever (assuming I do the OGL right, of course). What I can't do on my own, is make any kind of statement whatsoever in regard to True20 or CORE.

Right. You can't claim compatibility with those trademarks without permission, as per Section 7 of the OGL.

 

[Pramas]

I see that the setting search is open-ended with the number of winners. So if there are 50 entries and 20 of them are great, Green Ronin might choose 20 winners?

In theory, but since we plan to print these in the True20 core rulebook, there is a practical limit on what we can fit in the book.

Chris Pramas
Green Ronin Publishing

 

[BryonD]

Right. You can't claim compatibility with those trademarks without permission, as per Section 7 of the OGL.

Cool, thanks.
Not sure why that should be a problem for anyone.....

 

[Cergorach]

How about:
TheReal20
The20
(The)Original20
Tripin20
TheOnly20
Sadistic20 (otherwise known as the die that only rolls a one when you don't need it and a 20 when your opponent needs it)

Anyone else? ;-)

 

[AscentStudios]

Good gravy.

I would hope that folks seeing the number of industry owners/professionals sallying forth to this thread to defend the idea of ownership of a trademark is saying something. The opinions I'm seeing here arguing against the definition of trademarks, their value, or good relationships in the industry, are, quite frankly, talking out of thier asses. The idea that a company who owns an idea *owes* it to any shmuck who wants to crap something out on the page and put said company's name on it, so he can gain a profit for himself without paying the idea's owner a dime, boggles the mind.

This ain't big business, people. This, as my friend Clayton Oliver quite astutely notes, is a subsidized hobby.

But anyway.

Correct me if I got this wrong.

"Powered by Spycraft" means that it uses the Spycraft engine, but it is not a Spycraft game.

"Spycraft Family" means it is a Spycraft game.

Nope. "Powered by" and "Family" are both licensed third party products, with varying degrees of support from AEG. Because I don't know exactly what benefits Family members gain with 2.0 (I am familiar with 1.0's benefits), but Family is essentially a license with greater support of AEG. "Powered By" IIRC is free - AEG just wants to be aware what's out there.

Right. Green Ronin is not interested in controlling what publishers do with the True20 license. They want to be able to select who gets to use the True20 logo (royalty free I might add), and those publishers can do what they want. Implicit in GR's selection of said publishers is that GR hopes those publishers will do the right thing with the True20 license and not make GR regret their decision. But GR will likely not have control over what publishers do.

Exactly. Brands like True20 have value (otherwise, why would people want to use it in the first place?) thus they want to be sure that True20 remains associated with value in the reader's mind - just like when you see the Coke symbol, you think '"good" or "thirst-quenching" or you salivate, GR and AEG want "good game design" to pop to mind when people see True20 or Powered by Spycraft logos. It's not about control of the product, just the brand. That's the guts of branding - consistency of quality which constructs value and positive feelings within the mind of the viewer - and it requires a lot of hard work to maintain.

People who fear being controlled or want to use it regardless are either lazy or player-haters and should frankly find another way rather than stealing (gaining profit from another's work without offering proper credit and/or compensation per a standard agreement). In this case, as Chris has repeatedly stated, using OGC is perfectly acceptable per the OGL; infringing upon the IP and/or trademark of WotC (d20 STL and logo) AEG (PbS logo and marks) or GR (True20 logo and marks) for profit is theft, as they offer up a standard and most-likely free license for people to use in order to use those marks). The content is open - the company, however, is not

*sigh* At any rate, I am in no way concerned that Phil and RoninArts will do the right thing. I just happen to have this conversation about branding and trademarks every other day or so at the day job. Ah, the joys of a public relations career.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmm, as an aside - a Campaign Planner for Spycraft would not be a bad idea at all, at all. Missions, Threats, Masterminds, and Serials could all do with some sheets. Serial Planner perhap? Spy Planner? Organization is key to this type of game.

The Auld Grump

 

[philreed]

Hmmm, as an aside - a Campaign Planner for Spycraft would not be a bad idea at all, at all.

Someone must have tapped my phone . . .

I know nothink!

 

[philreed]

*sigh* At any rate, I am in no way concerned that Phil and RoninArts will do the right thing. I just happen to have this conversation about branding and trademarks every other day or so at the day job. Ah, the joys of a public relations career.

Thanks. I definitely didn't start the thread looking for internet approval. I thought it was a dishonest suggestion and wondered what other opinions would be. The reaction to -- and understanding of -- trademark ownership was a little surprising.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Someone must have tapped my phone . . .

I know nothink!

Heh! Can't say as I am much surprised. It was the first thing I thought when I got the first edition... If I ever got to run more than a firefight to test out: A. The firefight rules in Spycraft. and B. The nifty terrain in Streets of Mayhem. I suspect that I would have created a few myself... Preplanning Chase scenes is one of the things that I forgot to mention above.

The Auld Grump, still with the Spy Hunter theme? Dang! Looks like I will have to pick this game up...

 

[Man-thing]

I thought it was a dishonest suggestion and wondered what other opinions would be. The reaction to -- and understanding of -- trademark ownership was a little surprising.

This would be an example of trademark use as well wouldn't it. I know when I saw the title I thought immediately of another product by another company.

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=5285&SRC=ENWorld