Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bad-JuJu 01-22-04, 05:29 PM	Just curious if there is any way to find out what is specifically trademarked by Wizards of the Coast. My specific interests are the Gods of Faerun and whether or not they are registered trademarks of WotC.
Thomas M. Reid 01-23-04, 11:55 AM	Anything that is considered part of the intellectual property is considered copyrighted. Thus, a name by itself wouldn't necessarily be an issue (though if it's really unusual and/or recognizable--Elminster or Drizzt, for example--you could still run afoul of the lawyers), but the concept of a character (name along with race, gender, personality, weapons) taken as a whole would be off limits. The gods of Faerûn are definitely copyrighted as part of the IP, and you couldn't use them in your own works. EDIT: I just reread your question and see that I really didn't answer it. Trademarks are different than copyrighting. A trademark is a brand name--like Coca-Cola or Forgotten Realms--that is usually presented in a unique graphic style. Copyrighting is claiming ownership of a body of text and the concepts associated with it. Anything that WotC considers a trademark--whether they have it registered as such or not--is listed in the legal frontmatter of any product they publish and shows up noted as such in the body of the work (noted with either a TM or a (R) next to the term). Thus, the gods' names are not trademarked, but their concepts are copyrighted. Thomas
Cunning Linguist 01-23-04, 12:28 PM	You can’t copyright ancient gods. Take Loviatar, she is part of the Finnish Mythology. The goddess of Plague and the sister of Kyppu-Tytto the goddess of Illness. Melikki and Ilmater are also names directly taken from the Finnish Mythology. Tyr is from the Norse mythology, the god of War. Oghma is a celtic god of God of eloquence, inspiration, language, magic, music, physical strength, poets, writers.
Zanan 01-23-04, 12:29 PM	I assume there would be a few Egyptians around protesting if the Wizards would claim a trademark for, say Osiris or Isis. ;) Same goes for most of the Nordic gods like Tyr or Loviatar. (Anything that is behind them though, as in: anything game-related is copyrighted. ... Obviously, if you think you want to create an Egyptian based fantasy world with the named gods (and probably a few more), you can very well use the names and create concepts for your own, based on mythology and what have you. You may end up with something that looks not that different to what is written in P&P or F&P though. After all, not all of the concepts and ideas about the Egyptian / Mulhorandi deities were clawed from fresh air either.)
Ranger REG 01-23-04, 03:53 PM	Originally posted by Cunning Linguist You can’t copyright ancient gods. Take Loviatar, she is part of the Finnish Mythology. The goddess of Plague and the sister of Kyppu-Tytto the goddess of Illness. Melikki and Ilmater are also names directly taken from the Finnish Mythology. Tyr is from the Norse mythology, the god of War. Oghma is a celtic god of God of eloquence, inspiration, language, magic, music, physical strength, poets, writers. No, but you can copyright the concept as presented in Forgotten Realms products (explaining their presence and dominion in the FR setting). Outside of that, not relating to Forgotten Realms and drawing straight from the mythology source, you cannot. So you can do Thor, but you cannot use the exact concept of The Mighty Thor as depicted in Marvel Comics.
Mirtek 01-23-04, 06:16 PM	To sum it up: You can use all gods whose name are taken from real world deities. You can not use godse who were originally created for FRhus no one can sue you for using Oghma and Mielikki, but you would certainly get trouble with WotC's legal department if you would use Cyric and Bane.
Cunning Linguist 01-23-04, 07:03 PM	Not Bane. Bane (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Bane) Microsoft does not not have copyright on the name "Windows", neither does Wizards own the name of a synonym of hate, harm and ruin. Cyric on the other hand, they may have.
Ranger REG 01-24-04, 02:41 AM	Originally posted by Cunning Linguist Microsoft does not not have copyright on the name "Windows", neither does Wizards own the name of a synonym of hate, harm and ruin. True, but if you use "Bane" in the exact same image and likeness of the FR deity, then you may have a legal problem. The same way you use Bane in the exact same image and likeness of Batman's villain. You can have a barbarian with dark hair that happens to be named "Conan" but if you're refering to the Robert E Howard's iconic character's exact image and likeness, you better lay out your suit and tie for court. Hehehe.
Wooly Rupert 01-24-04, 03:03 AM	Originally posted by Cunning Linguist Microsoft does not not have copyright on the name "Windows", neither does Wizards own the name of a synonym of hate, harm and ruin. Yeah, but Microsoft would copyright that name if they could... ;) But you're right. In fact, the Death's Gate Cycle, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, had a character named Bane. He was a 10 year old prince, and a pretty evil little bugger.