zenten has a question

[thebitterguy]

And I figured there's a ton of you who should know the answer to this:

"Can someone copywrite a roleplaying system? I don't mean the setting, or the style, or the specific layouts, or anything like the names of things. Just the game system itself."

I'm sure this question is at the heart of the OGL n' shit.

Happy new year, if'n I don't get to mention it later.

Comments

[eyebeams.livejournal.com]

IANAL, etc, etc.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Specific terms used in relationship to a game system, so long as they are considered to be distinct, can be claimed as intellectual property. Furthermore, for most game companies, the legalities are moot, since legal fees alone will quash even legitimate unauthorized reuses of a game system. The OGL is, among other things, a good-faith promise that WotC won't hang you by your balls. Incidentally, you cannot, as far as I know claim compatibility with a game somebody else owns without permission, either.

Also, game mechanics can be patented because, well, lots of stuff can be patented.

All in all, it's not worth trying, really.

[eyebeams.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. You can copyright specific descriptions of game systems, as well.

[timgray.livejournal.com]

Yes - because any written work is automatically copyright(ed?), if you write a game book people can't just re-use chunks of your text without permission.

People who are very concerned about being able to prove copyright are sometimes advised to lodge a copy with a bank, solicitor or whatever, but this is probably excessive for most of us. Or you can post a copy to yourself and not open the envelope unless challenged, so the postmark acts as proof. But concerns about individuals or companies in the RPG field ripping off your precious ideas are largely misplaced, from what I pick up.

[kynn.livejournal.com]

I got as far as the guy not knowing how to spell "copyright" and then decided he was too stupid to be allowed to write games, so I didn't bother with the question.

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

My son is in no way stupid. He just has trouble spelling.

-Defensive Mommy.

[kynn.livejournal.com]

Okay, maybe I was being snarky. I just hate that particular misspelling for some reason.

--K

[terminal-pariah.livejournal.com]

The OGL itself answers the question, by way of being a license. If you can't copyright/patent something, how can you license it? Without the ability to make something proprietary, a license cannot exist.