Quote from: estar on April 12, 2023, 09:37:17 AM
You can't copyright the concept of Hit Points, Armor Class, Hit Dice, etc. individually or even the name if they are generic (which the example are). However there is an argument to be made that a specific combination of these mechanics is a creative expression thus protectable by copyright or trade dress. The more unique the combination the more it can be argued the entire system is a protectable creative expression.

So there is doubt that rewriting say the two B/X books in your own words keeps you clear of infringing the copyright of the original. But really the problem that actual court decisions testing "game mechanics are not copyrightable" are few and far between. And the scope of these decisions while encouraging it is not definitive. Also the US copyright office stating explicitly that game mechanics can't be copyrighted (only their expression) also helps.

So one impact of Open Licenses is to remove this doubt and uncertainty.

Quote from: FingerRod on April 09, 2023, 07:13:00 PM
If you cannot copyright rules, you don't need it. If you aren't creative enough to come up with your own shit, you shouldn't be a content creator. I seriously don't understand.

Quote from: GhostNinja on April 12, 2023, 11:54:14 AM

Quote from: estar on April 12, 2023, 09:37:17 AM
You can't copyright the concept of Hit Points, Armor Class, Hit Dice, etc. individually or even the name if they are generic (which the example are). However there is an argument to be made that a specific combination of these mechanics is a creative expression thus protectable by copyright or trade dress. The more unique the combination the more it can be argued the entire system is a protectable creative expression.

So there is doubt that rewriting say the two B/X books in your own words keeps you clear of infringing the copyright of the original. But really the problem that actual court decisions testing "game mechanics are not copyrightable" are few and far between. And the scope of these decisions while encouraging it is not definitive. Also the US copyright office stating explicitly that game mechanics can't be copyrighted (only their expression) also helps.

So one impact of Open Licenses is to remove this doubt and uncertainty.

Not to mention that even if you held the copyright and someone did this would it even be worth the legal costs to go after someone who probably doesn't have any money?

Quote from: GeekyBugle on April 18, 2023, 12:02:12 PM

Quote from: GhostNinja on April 12, 2023, 11:54:14 AM

Quote from: estar on April 12, 2023, 09:37:17 AM
You can't copyright the concept of Hit Points, Armor Class, Hit Dice, etc. individually or even the name if they are generic (which the example are). However there is an argument to be made that a specific combination of these mechanics is a creative expression thus protectable by copyright or trade dress. The more unique the combination the more it can be argued the entire system is a protectable creative expression.

So there is doubt that rewriting say the two B/X books in your own words keeps you clear of infringing the copyright of the original. But really the problem that actual court decisions testing "game mechanics are not copyrightable" are few and far between. And the scope of these decisions while encouraging it is not definitive. Also the US copyright office stating explicitly that game mechanics can't be copyrighted (only their expression) also helps.

So one impact of Open Licenses is to remove this doubt and uncertainty.

Not to mention that even if you held the copyright and someone did this would it even be worth the legal costs to go after someone who probably doesn't have any money?

Duno, ask old TSR if it was worth to take down FREE stuff for their games.