Update on V:TES state of affairs?

BenPeal wrote:

The rules for V:TES are copyrighted

The actual text is copyrighted, not the rules. If you'll describe the same gameplay with other words, than you are fine (See Pathfinder).

BenPeal wrote:

I have zero interest in a game about Balkavians and Josferatu.

Nosferatu is, obviously, general term too, Malkavians are harder, but if you got vampire with obf, aus, dem and silly picture than you'll know who it is no matter what will be written on a card.

Other, more interesting, question is, what the company, obtaining the rights for the game (or will to ignorу CCP&WoC), will do with the game and vekn. "Peasefull continuation" looks not the most probable outcome, "rebooting" (like Netrunner), or complete redesign of game as well as player organization (Star Wars CCG) can be qute possible.

So I'm not shure, that it'll be a good development

elotar wrote:

BenPeal wrote:

The rules for V:TES are copyrighted

The actual text is copyrighted, not the rules. If you'll describe the same gameplay with other words, than you are fine (See Pathfinder).

The Pathfinder rules are made possible by the Open Gaming License, which is owned by Wizards of the Coast. For more information on Paizo's use of the Open Gaming License, as well as other licensed material, go to these sites:

paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/openGameLicense.html

paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/compatibility

elotar wrote:

BenPeal wrote:

I have zero interest in a game about Balkavians and Josferatu.

Nosferatu is, obviously, general term too, Malkavians are harder, but if you got vampire with obf, aus, dem and silly picture than you'll know who it is no matter what will be written on a card.

Funny that the movie Nosferatu was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, and as such had to change "vampire" to "Nosferatu" and "Count Dracula" to "Count Orlok", but I digress.

Other, more interesting, question is, what the company, obtaining the rights for the game (or will to ignorу CCP&WoC), will do with the game and vekn. "Peasefull continuation" looks not the most probable outcome, "rebooting" (like Netrunner), or complete redesign of game as well as player organization (Star Wars CCG) can be qute possible.

So I'm not shure, that it'll be a good development

If OneBookShelf.com acquires the rights to publish V:TES, it will be a "peaceful continuation". If another company acquires the rights to publish V:TES, all bets are off.

BenPeal wrote:

If OneBookShelf.com acquires the rights to publish V:TES, it will be a "peaceful continuation".

So no streamlining of the rules? Not so good either

elotar wrote:

BenPeal wrote:

If OneBookShelf.com acquires the rights to publish V:TES, it will be a "peaceful continuation".

So no streamlining of the rules? Not so good either

The Rules Team, as part of their V:EKN duties and not at the request of any company, has been working on an overhaul of the rulebook and card text templating. The goal is to get the game to work the way we know it, only written properly.

elotar wrote:

BenPeal wrote:

The rules for V:TES are copyrighted

The actual text is copyrighted, not the rules. If you'll describe the same gameplay with other words, than you are fine (See Pathfinder).

As Ben points out, Pathfinder isn't a sensible example because of the Open Gaming License.

However, the tendrils of copyright law extend beyond just the "actual text". Various jurisdictions recognise the concept of the derivative work and allow the author of the primary work to authorize (or not) derivative works. Unauthorized derivative works can still happen, but then often need to fit into exemptions in the law, such as fair use/fair dealing.

Further, assume that - somehow - a way to evade the law on this issue is found and deployed. One of the aggrieved copyright holders deploys Large, Expensive Lawyers. You receive a legal threat on your doorstep. Defending this legal threat will cost you a large amount of money, a large amount of time, and a large portion of your sanity. If taken to a sufficiently senior court, you are confident that what you have done is completely 100% watertight - but it will take three years, your life, and re-mortgaging your house to do so. People may wish to avoid doing this.

jamesatzephyr wrote:

One of the aggrieved copyright holders deploys Large, Expensive Lawyers. You receive a legal threat on your doorstep. Defending this legal threat will cost you a large amount of money, a large amount of time, and a large portion of your sanity. If taken to a sufficiently senior court, you are confident that what you have done is completely 100% watertight - but it will take three years, your life, and re-mortgaging your house to do so. People may wish to avoid doing this.

This is the real reason. Even not the reality of such a trial, but unjustified fear of it - as I understand there was only one such case wich get to the court, mentioned "Chapterhouse vs Games Workshop", which failed spectaculary for IP owner - both in direct costs of legal action and as a terrible PR nighmare.

I'm really in doubt that WoC/CCP are going to enter such minefield to fight for a unusefull for them property as a VtES rights.