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OK, you've actually got two different examples
going on. In the first case (if two OGC features are linked, in the source
material, by a common PI name, can you change that common PI name to a common
name of your choice) I'd say yes. Either reading of PI (whitewash vs...the
other way) allows it. It can't disallow it, in fact, without giving you
permission to reference (in creation) and be aware of
PI. Realistically you are aware of most PI, but in theory (I think)
you aren't, except so far as to avoid using it. Make sense?
The example below concerns rules. If action
point (and etc) rules aren't open, they you're up a creek anyways. If they
are open, then you should be able to rename them whatever you wish, as
though you were unaware of previous linkages. Which term goes where would
be obvious in most cases, I'd think. For security, I'd
delete all references to action points, villain points, and hero points,
then go back through the document and add them back in. That may add a few
points of discrepancy.
If you're doing all this to make
something just like a owned/copyrighted/PIed property, then ethically I
think you're on thin ground. But that's
your problem.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 4:12
PM
Subject: Re: [Ogf-l] PI Spell Names
Alright different example:
In the book, Mutants and Masterminds there are 3
types of points that have been designated as PI.
Hero Points
Villian Points
Power Points
For each of the above types of points there is
one section that defines how you calculate how many of these the character
gets. Or in the case of power points, how to calculate how much a power
costs.
For each of the above types of points there is a
section that defines what you can do with those points. How you spend
hero or villian points to be presice.
If I were to decide to give these points new Open
Content names. Say Action Points and Experience Points. Would a jump in logic
need to be made in order to connect the two. For instance, I decide to name
the header on the section that was Hero Points and how many you
get 'Action Points'. I then look at the rest of my open content and see
two types of points that I can spend in play. One is Villian Points the other
Hero points. I have this section now named 'action points' and I want the
spending of action points to mirror the spending of hero points.
Do I have to ignore the fact that I KNOW that the
PI would connect my Action points to the Hero point section, or can I assume
that when I change one instance of Hero Points to Action points that I change
all instances?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 3:43
PM
Subject: Re: [Ogf-l] PI Spell
Names
In a message dated 2/20/2004 3:28:49 PM
Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<<The question is: Do I _KNOW_ that the spells which are
in a completely different chapter from the Diety Venca are in fact related
to the diety? Or for my purposes are they just nameless spells and
nameless dieties?
>>
Does it matter if
you know? What are you proposing doing?
I would strongly argue
for the position that if the spell reference and the deity information were
in the same volume, then whether or not you knew what Vecna was, you'd blow
it if you started referring to him. If "Vecna" is PI, you are to
review the PI declaration and avoid references to it. That's your
responsibility, to identify the word and avoid it if you can't otherwise
figure out that the PI exclusions were narrower.
<<
And no, this is not just theoretical talk before someone
chimes in. I have a real world similar example where I felt weird about
claiming that a certain set of rules went with a certain name even though
I was going to change the name.
>>
Again, your
question above seems lacking in clarity to me. You have provided a
vague example with almost no real question.
What are you intending to
do? Exactly how was the PI associated with Vecna stated?
Unless you are willing to go to the mat and challenge somebody's PI
declaration as either invalid, or if valid, then void, you should just stay
clear of trying to tinker with PI'd spell names. Replace them
outright. It's really not that hard. Really.
You may have
a vast desire to just tweak the PI to see if you can sneak by.
Ideally, I'd avoid that urge unless you are willing to go to the mat.
It's so trivial to change a spell name if it's not merely "Vecna" that is
PI'd, but also "Vecna's Hand of Doom" and "Vecna's Horrid Vomit".
If
only the word "Vecna" is PI'd then you should be able to swap his name out
for any other. If the full spell names are PI'd then, if you want to
play it safe, grab a totally different spell name. You could try
claiming that "Tony's Hand of Doom" is OK even though the entire spell name
"Vecna's Hand of Doom" was PI'd.
Heck, even if you could get away
with it you'd like earn the enmity of the author. And for what
gain?
Grab legal counsel if you have severe doubts but are desperate
to try something anyway. You may not need them, but an opinion from
counsel who may have to represent you if you tap dance on the wrong person's
land mine is probably warranted.
Heck, if you can afford a lawyer,
I'd say whenever you have questions about the OGL that have a strong
likelihood of violating the license, it's probably useful to check with him
and not just list members here.
Lee
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