<<hey! they've claimed "d20" as PI. >>
Without further clarification this would seem to limit people from referring to their game as "having a d20 based task resolution system" or even referring to a "d20 roll".
How the heck can they claim d20 as PI and expect people to use the SRD? This desperately needs clarification.
<<Guess that puts the spotlight
directly on the question of whether any "authority to contribute" is
required for PI, as well as the questions of if that authority
requires ownership in the usual IP sense (i.e., no unqualified common
terms).>>
Right. Claiming "d20" as PI without further specificity would seem to be reaching. That seems to suggest that WotC's position is that almost anything can be claimed as PI if this stands.
<<
[In case anyone cares: i stick by my guns that they can't claim "d20">
as trademark *or* PI. I wonder if i'll ever do anything that
challenges that claim.]
>
You mean, like producing a d20 product that even refers to a "d20" as a variance die or a damage die or anything? Claiming "d20", unmodified, as PI basically all but closes off the SRD from being used and even talking about rules or task resolution.
They should have said "inclusion of the phrase 'd20' in the title of your work" or somesuch.
Lee
