Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer

From: silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)

Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000

In article <65br23$2io@news2.zippo.com>, lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl) wrote:
>silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens) writes:
>
>> Rules specifically cannot be copyrighted.  You'd have to get a
>> patent for that.  The programming code is a different matter.
>> See a lawyer.
>
>The game mechanics can't be copyrighted, but the exact expression of
>the rules sure can. GDW went bankrupt after being sued for using
>"Orcs" in the rules of a new frp game.

The GDW case never went to court, and GDW was on the slippery
slope way before that... if anything, TSR taking that clunker off
their hands *slowed* their demise.  (Hmm. And now TSR went under
and WotC owns that particular albatross...)

However, you're right in that the exact *text* of the rules can
be copyrighted.  But, as with any other "process," the actual
rules can't.  And I'm thinking that the true intellectual
property of a strategy/tactical PBeM lies in the algorithms of
the game, not their expression.

--  Karen Cravens      | Phoenyx PBeM RPG Listserver: majordomo@phoenyx.net
    silver@phoenyx.net | http://www.phoenyx.net/
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References

Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000