Negative Space: gaming copyright
- FASA Copyright Position
- This is FASA’s response to a message from Robert Hayden about FASA stance on copywrite and ftp access inlight of TSR’s recent draconian stance on the issue.
- Why do we need open source games?
- If game rules cannot be copyrighted, and if compatible supplements require no permission, what is the point of an open content game book? Over the next three installments, I’ll look at how open content licenses can make for better gaming.
- Copyright and game rules
- Game rules are specifically exempted from copyright restrictions in the United States. But open content remains useful for gamers, because it allows for easier re-use, easier improvement, and helps improve the long-term viability of a game.
- Game supplements and compatible works
- A copyright-based open license can’t require anything of compatible works unless the compatible work would otherwise be a copyright violation—something that usually isn’t the case. But an open license on a game makes creating compatible works easier, and can make some kinds of compatible works more useful and complete.
- Worlds and characters, and other copyright expansions
- Copyright law is not static. It has a history of expanding both in term and scope. An open content license will protect, tomorrow, uses that today are unrestricted.
- Can I legally use Gary Gygax’s name for my son?
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It’s probably best to talk to a lawyer, or just avoid the issue altogether. Gaming copyright is a very complex issue, and best left to the experts or those with deep pockets. Have you considered naming him Sue?
- Three OGLs walk into a bar: The Return of Gruumsh
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It has never been a good idea to use the OGL. That’s become obvious to a lot more people over the last several weeks.
More Information
- Part 1: Copyrightability of RPG Stat Blocks
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“WotC has a history of taking advantage of gamers’ ignorance of contract and intellectual property law and lack of wealth when making similar demands, thus harming the gaming community and industry, so it’s time those issues are addressed.”
- Part 2: Copyrightability of RPG Abilities and Spells
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“The threshold question in this post is whether an ability or spell description is copyrightable. They are, but only those parts that are artistic in nature… Much like stat blocks, spell descriptions often aren’t copyrightable, but in all cases certainly have elements within them that aren’t copyrightable.”
