RE: Purchasing the (TFT) copyright/ Rules, for use, publishing and the World Wide Web...

["Brad Thompson" <bthomps@petrodatasource.com>]

> Michael Taylor
>
> Steve Jackson has always used this excuse for not allowing any fan-based
> GURPS software or web-postings.
>
> Since he seems to have relaxed on this issue I can only assume that it's
> not strictly true - maybe it's up to the discretion of the copyright
> holder, but still does not endanger them from losing their copyright.
>
> Or maybe it's simply that while it is technically true, the non-copyright
> holder would have to prove in court that the current copyright holder did
> not 'want' the copyright that badly if they didn't defend it. Something
> legally possible, but which probably wouldn't pass a jury's 'squint' test.

This is a confusion between copyright and trademark.  Copyright is
automatic - a work gains copyright protection the minute it is published,
but a trademark must be registered and then defended in order for it to
remain your property.  You cannot lose your copyright if you allow someone
else to borrow from your material, but you will certainly lose your
trademarks if you allow them to fall into common use.

It is the trademarks that SJ was defending in not allowing GURPS fan
material, not his copyrights.

-Brad

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