Re: [ogf-d20-l] D20 System Trademark License issues

[John Goff]

> Nobody is saying that they can't use the OGL content in those products.
The
> issue is one of the utility value of the >logo< to the customer.  If a
> customer sees the D20 logo on a product, they should expect that product
to
> be a >game< product filled with material compatible with the game engine
> they regularly use.

I've got to agree with Ryan here.

As I see it�and I could be wrong (God knows it's happened enough times
before)�diluting the gaming content of products carrying the D20 logo is a
bad thing. Sure, in the short run it may boost the sales of the first few
products of that sort that carry it, but over time, it's going to have a
negative effect on the value of the trademark to WotC and its licensees.

Besides, remember, D20 is a _game_ system trademark, not a _setting_
trademark. The value of putting the D20 trademark on a novel is probably
debatable. If we were talking about using the D&D logo with its established
flavor, I think it would be a different issue, but we're not.

However, the negative effect of diluting the impact of the D20 logo is
not--at least, IMHO.

John Goff