GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
Yep. The best present ever from Marc & Matt.
Indeed. With Marc having moved on from the original 2d6 system, setting it "free" is a good thing. There are few enough bell curve systems in RPGs as it is.
Will Mongoose Traveller Go On?
- Thread starter Narl
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Indeed. With Marc having moved on from the original 2d6 system, setting it "free" is a good thing. There are few enough bell curve systems in RPGs as it is.
I wonder if an OGL version could be called 'Traveler' (one L) making it a generic term in the US and a potential Trademark (mis-spelling) in the UK.
Not to be confused with Traveller (LL), the US Trademark and UK generic spelling.
... probably not.
UK trademark law is very different from US...
... in part, because our founding fathers apparently thought the UK trademark laws were buggered badly.
Just to quickly lump in, there are many more titles in the line up but, since we moved to a purely freelancer set up for writers of Traveller, we rarely release news of most until they are ready to go - which is why things like Luriani just seem to 'appear.'
As for longevity of the line, the licence was extended as per contract last year, and officially has another four years to run. That said, Marc and I are already discussing how Traveller may develop along with other Traveller-related projects, all aimed at pushing the game/brand further and giving it a greater awareness (or, rather, giving gamers a greater awareness of it - we are not that advanced).
There are some seriously cool things in the works right now, so I would say yes, this way of Travelling will go on!
I wonder if an OGL version could be called 'Traveler' (one L) making it a generic term in the US and a potential Trademark (mis-spelling) in the UK.
Not to be confused with Traveller (LL), the US Trademark and UK generic spelling.
... probably not.
I know that if you tried using the Trav SRD (under OGL) that way in the U.S. a judge that got the case would probably fry you in the first 5 minutes of the trial.
GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
Since it won't be an issue for another four years at least, the facetious approach is to start with "Space" and attach another noun to it that hasn't already been done in gaming.
Family friendly suggestions only, please.
Family friendly suggestions only, please.
Since it won't be an issue for another four years at least, the facetious approach is to start with "Space" and attach another noun to it that hasn't already been done in gaming.
Family friendly suggestions only, please.
Spaceships & Solar systems TM
Starships & Spacmen?
Oops. It has been used already.
Oops. It has been used already.
CosmicGamer
SOC-14 1K
Interestingly, Traveller is a US registered trademark of a tractor supply company. Saw no mention related to the books. Not sure how Mark gets around this. Maybe it's registered as a trademark logo? Does this hinder the use of book titles if they are not reproductions of the same color and font logo?
The tractor company has little say since we are talking about a RPG vs a tractor company, different goods not easily confused. I believe there is no trademark infringement.
For example "For Dummies" is a registered trademark for
Goods and Services: Digital media, namely, non-fiction electronic publications, namely, books, booklets, pamphlets, articles and manuals, recorded on CDs, DVDs and computers, on a wide variety of subjects.
NOTE: there are other trademarks covering "For Dummies" but I didn't look them all up. A for dummies line of clothing and so on. This is for use as part of a hypothetical example so please don't tear me up based on all the various entries for "For Dummies".
Also, no need to tear me up at all as I'm posting more as a question than a statement of fact.
So others can't create a CD with a unique topic not covered in the "For Dummies" series and call it My CD For Dummies.
But someone could still make a universal wrench that automatically adjusts to the size of a bolt and call it "Bolt Loosener For Dummies".
You might even be ok writing a computer game "Travelling the Imperium For Dummies".
Do your research, but I think without a trademark specifically for it, writing a "Traveller" titled computer game would be ok as long as you stay clear of logo and copyright issues.
I don't know the laws, but my limited understanding of what I have read is that if Traveller publications are only copyright protected, this limits peoples ability to reproduce the written work and profit from it. But if Mark, or whoever, has no trademark on Traveller as a book series, he/they can't stop anyone from using the name - even writing a Sci Fi novel and using the Traveller title!?
Cost too much, over $400 even if you do it yourself online, to just trademark stuff myself - including you have to actually show use within a certain period of time and can't hold a name just in case someday... but I did just register CosmicGamer.com to hold the domain name.
The tractor company has little say since we are talking about a RPG vs a tractor company, different goods not easily confused. I believe there is no trademark infringement.
For example "For Dummies" is a registered trademark for
Goods and Services: Digital media, namely, non-fiction electronic publications, namely, books, booklets, pamphlets, articles and manuals, recorded on CDs, DVDs and computers, on a wide variety of subjects.
NOTE: there are other trademarks covering "For Dummies" but I didn't look them all up. A for dummies line of clothing and so on. This is for use as part of a hypothetical example so please don't tear me up based on all the various entries for "For Dummies".
Also, no need to tear me up at all as I'm posting more as a question than a statement of fact.
So others can't create a CD with a unique topic not covered in the "For Dummies" series and call it My CD For Dummies.
But someone could still make a universal wrench that automatically adjusts to the size of a bolt and call it "Bolt Loosener For Dummies".
You might even be ok writing a computer game "Travelling the Imperium For Dummies".
Do your research, but I think without a trademark specifically for it, writing a "Traveller" titled computer game would be ok as long as you stay clear of logo and copyright issues.
I don't know the laws, but my limited understanding of what I have read is that if Traveller publications are only copyright protected, this limits peoples ability to reproduce the written work and profit from it. But if Mark, or whoever, has no trademark on Traveller as a book series, he/they can't stop anyone from using the name - even writing a Sci Fi novel and using the Traveller title!?
Cost too much, over $400 even if you do it yourself online, to just trademark stuff myself - including you have to actually show use within a certain period of time and can't hold a name just in case someday... but I did just register CosmicGamer.com to hold the domain name.
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GypsyComet
SOC-14 1K
By not being in the tractor parts business.
CosmicGamer
SOC-14 1K
What I meant is I don't know how he- or FFE or whoever - gets around not having "Traveller" Trademarked. I've edited my post with more details for clarity if you want to go back and re read it.
GDW last held Traveller tm in the US for paper product game.
http://www.trademarkia.com/traveller-73241279.html
It is now "dead".
I would saw don't worry about this issue at all, it has not been a problem in the past 37+ years.
For most of that time it was a registered TM. Probably why there was "no problem".
For most of that time it was a registered TM. Probably why there was "no problem".
Do we know that Marc doesn't have this somehow taken care of or a non-issue? Has anyone asked him?
It isn't currently as a Trademark. How else do you "take care of it"?
It might be pending but, doesn't show as even refiled.
CosmicGamer
SOC-14 1K
I read once it was "in default" or revoked or whatever the term is, that it could not be reactivated. Is this what you mean by refiled?
Not that a new application couldn't be submitted - by anyone. Is this what you mean by refiled?
"take care of" as in "mind the store". I hope my english is right? I mean how can he control the use of the name Traveller in other similar works?
I have no idea if the red on black Traveller "logo" is registered in any way but would a logo registration also somehow protect the use of the word used in the logo?
Or could someone create their own unique RPG and slap the Traveller name on it legally since it isn't trademarked?
Isn't Marc on this mailer, what does he have to say?
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