Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 doppelganger May 14, 2009 8:51:16	How close to the online pdfs found in Dungeon can GSL pdfs come? Can we use a similar three column landscape format? Can we use similar fonts? A colored strip at the top of the page showing the title of the work? I am getting interested in releasing a series of adventures in pdf and I really like the way WotC lays out their Dungeon pdfs. I don't want to infringe upon their trade dress, but I don't know how close is too close.
#2 Webster May 14, 2009 21:06:19	I would imagine they can't look like the official products. (It's what's called Trade Dress, which is protected under trademark law if I'm not mistaken.) There's nothing wrong with using landscape, but if you combine it with multiple elements to make it look like the Official product, then it's not allowed, AFAIK.
#3 joydyhee May 15, 2009 8:20:02	That may be true, but check out this example on Amazon from Goodman Games. Out of the handful of readily available pictures that I browsed, I think this uses the "trade dress" of 4E rulebooks to the extent that there is a large central image, the title bar and author bar are in contrasting colors, there is a color theme at the top and bottom, and the title itself is two-row red caps. It's obviously not exact, but it is pretty close. Has anyone heard if WotC is making a stink about this infringing on trade dress or not? Just some food for thought. As always, you should check with a lawyer familiar with such topics.