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Message no. 1
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Spells and Copyrights
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 08:53:16 -0400
Okay, so most spells are probably proprietary and unregistered
trade secrets, but still...for those that aren't, do you copyright a
spell, or do you patent it? The formula is a descriptive document, like
a blueprint, and that unique representation might be copyrightable, but
the spell itself is a process. It's not relevant to anything, really, but I'm
curious :)

--Sean

--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4
Message no. 2
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Spells and Copyrights
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 13:51:33 -0400
At 08:53 AM 10/5/98 -0400, you wrote:
> Okay, so most spells are probably proprietary and unregistered
>trade secrets, but still...for those that aren't, do you copyright a
>spell, or do you patent it? The formula is a descriptive document, like
>a blueprint, and that unique representation might be copyrightable, but
>the spell itself is a process. It's not relevant to anything, really, but I'm
>curious :)

According to the Grimmy, you copyright the formula. Can't do anything
about the procedure, because individual geasa can and will alter that.

Supposedly it's something of a sore point with legal and registered
magicians. You work hard, you spend time and nuyen, you create a new spell
and you copyright it, hoping to earn some money off selling it. Then some
twonk recreates it but using different formulae (which could be minor or
major differences) for the same affect.

And of course, shamanic formulae vs. hermetic...

I suppose it would be like trying to copyright a specific plotline in a
story. By using different characters, dialogue and locations you can have
radically different stories, even if the plotlines are identical.
Hollywood and Burbank (ie, TV) do it all the damn time...

Erik J.


http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/dungeon/480/index.html
The Reality Check for a Fictional World
Message no. 3
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Spells and Copyrights
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 14:00:54 -0400
On Mon, Oct 05, 1998 at 01:51:33PM -0400, Erik Jameson wrote:
> Supposedly it's something of a sore point with legal and registered
> magicians. You work hard, you spend time and nuyen, you create a new spell
> and you copyright it, hoping to earn some money off selling it. Then some
> twonk recreates it but using different formulae (which could be minor or
> major differences) for the same affect.
>
> And of course, shamanic formulae vs. hermetic...

Hmmmm. And actually (to try to make it relevant to something) it
could actually become the source of a run. Say a research magician's getting
awfully testy about some low-budget jerk who's making cheap knockoffs of
his formulas. Maybe he'd like someone to communicate his displeasure to
the gentleman in question, and encourage him to take up a safer line
of work....

--Sean

--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4
Message no. 4
From: "M. Sean Martinez" <ElBandit@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Spells and Copyrights
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 15:37:03 EDT
In a message dated 10/5/98 3:20:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU writes:

> Hmmmm. And actually (to try to make it relevant to something) it
> could actually become the source of a run. Say a research magician's
getting
> awfully testy about some low-budget jerk who's making cheap knockoffs of
> his formulas. Maybe he'd like someone to communicate his displeasure to
> the gentleman in question, and encourage him to take up a safer line
> of work....

Considering that there is a published Grimorie in the Shadowrun Universe with
hundreds of spells listed and descibed, I just can't see that happening too
often.

I believe this is either mentioned in the Grimorire of the BBB (SR2 Version)
and I can't believe FASA would change it.

OTOH, knowing how petty people and their groups can be I can almost see it.

-Bandit
Message no. 5
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Spells and Copyrights
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 16:01:09 -0400
Quoting M. Sean Martinez (ElBandit@***.COM):
> Considering that there is a published Grimorie in the Shadowrun Universe with
> hundreds of spells listed and descibed, I just can't see that happening too
> often.
>
> I believe this is either mentioned in the Grimorire of the BBB (SR2 Version)
> and I can't believe FASA would change it.

Then you agree with the gentleman at the Patent Office who, in the
middle of the 19th Century, declared that we had made every advance
possible, and there remained nothing new to invent? :)
Just because hundreds of spells exist, that doesn't mean that people
aren't constantly creating new ones. Of course, aside from force limitations,
one formula for a given effect is just as good as any other (which is too
bad - the existance of 'better' formulas that accomplish the same effect
for less drain would provide a major impetus for mages to grub for money...
but it might also unbalance the magic system) - but there are always new
effects. Advancement doesn't stop just because we've figured out how to
do everything we currently know that we want - somebody comes up with somehing
new and figures out how to use it, and soon we want that too :)

--Sean

--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4

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