Name List Legality Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Name List Legality Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kanatash
02-02-06, 09:32 PM Lets say that I take all the name list and naming explanations out of the Eberron Campaign Setting, Races of Eberron, and Five Nations sourcebooks and put them all in one list for easy game use. Could I make that available for download on another site, or is that some sort of copyright violation?
Edymnion
02-02-06, 09:37 PM Send an email to customer service and ask them to route your question to the WotC legal department. Because, really, it doesn't matter what we say, what does matter is what WotC legal will send out cease and desist letters over. :)
Kanatash
02-02-06, 09:51 PM I just thought that some of the forum monitors might know, and that way would be quicker. So if they don't know, i'll have to go with your advice. Thanks
Siran Dunmorgan
02-03-06, 03:37 AM Lets say that I take all the name list and naming explanations out of the Eberron Campaign Setting, Races of Eberron, and Five Nations sourcebooks and put them all in one list for easy game use. Could I make that available for download on another site, or is that some sort of copyright violation?

Re-distributing the naming explanations is a copyright violation.

Re-distributing the names is not a copyright violation, but it may be a trademark violation, which, sadly, is worse than a copyright violation.

The reason trademark violation is worse in this instance is actually rather interesting:

Copyright violations can be enforced or not at the whim of the copyright holder. If I were to make a copy of a monster's stat block from the Eberron Campaign Setting and publish it on my web site, Wizards of the Coast could let it sit for years before sending cease and desist letters, or asking the FBI to investigate the copyright violation. At their discretion, they might never do anything about it.

Trademark violations, on the other hand... trademarks must be defended as soon as the registrant becomes aware of the violation, or the registrant risks losing their rights to the mark

For an example of the kinds of things that are trademarks, take a look at the definition of "Product Identity" in the Open Gaming License.

Publishing the text of the rationales for names: copyright issue.

Publishing a list of character names: trademark issue.

Short answer: don't do it. Use the naming explanations, and make up your own names, instead. That way, there are neither copyright nor trademark issues at stake.

—Siran Dunmorgan

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kanatash 02-02-06, 09:32 PM	Lets say that I take all the name list and naming explanations out of the Eberron Campaign Setting, Races of Eberron, and Five Nations sourcebooks and put them all in one list for easy game use. Could I make that available for download on another site, or is that some sort of copyright violation?
Edymnion 02-02-06, 09:37 PM	Send an email to customer service and ask them to route your question to the WotC legal department. Because, really, it doesn't matter what we say, what does matter is what WotC legal will send out cease and desist letters over. :)
Kanatash 02-02-06, 09:51 PM	I just thought that some of the forum monitors might know, and that way would be quicker. So if they don't know, i'll have to go with your advice. Thanks
Siran Dunmorgan 02-03-06, 03:37 AM	Lets say that I take all the name list and naming explanations out of the Eberron Campaign Setting, Races of Eberron, and Five Nations sourcebooks and put them all in one list for easy game use. Could I make that available for download on another site, or is that some sort of copyright violation? Re-distributing the naming explanations is a copyright violation. Re-distributing the names is not a copyright violation, but it may be a trademark violation, which, sadly, is worse than a copyright violation. The reason trademark violation is worse in this instance is actually rather interesting: Copyright violations can be enforced or not at the whim of the copyright holder. If I were to make a copy of a monster's stat block from the Eberron Campaign Setting and publish it on my web site, Wizards of the Coast could let it sit for years before sending cease and desist letters, or asking the FBI to investigate the copyright violation. At their discretion, they might never do anything about it. Trademark violations, on the other hand... trademarks must be defended as soon as the registrant becomes aware of the violation, or the registrant risks losing their rights to the mark For an example of the kinds of things that are trademarks, take a look at the definition of "Product Identity" in the Open Gaming License. Publishing the text of the rationales for names: copyright issue. Publishing a list of character names: trademark issue. Short answer: don't do it. Use the naming explanations, and make up your own names, instead. That way, there are neither copyright nor trademark issues at stake. —Siran Dunmorgan