From:	"Christopher J. Liguori" <Christopher_Liguori@*****.PW.COM>
Subject:	Trademark and Copyright
Date:	Tue, 12 May 1998 13:31:41 EDT

In the US intelectual property is protected by in three ways; by
copywrite, trademark, or patent.
The same is true in many other countries. Trademark gives the person or
company control over
the use of the word being trademarked within certain limits. Trademarks are
the name of a company
("FASA") or product ( "Awakenings") or concept ("Matrix").
The content of the
sourcebooks is
copywrited, as is everything anyone writes on this list. Copywrite is a more
limited form of protection,
and covers the content of a writen work.

For instance if you sold or even distributed a product called "A Guide to
the Matrix" that related
to Shadowrun (not if it related to math) and FASA disapproved they could try to
stop you from
using the name "Matrix". They would have to show harm (which is more difficult
if the product is
free but far from impossible) and they likely would not for other business
reasons (increases
awareness of the game, keeps hard-core gamers happy, you don't want to look
like jackbooted
thugs keeping the man down :-)

If however you copied a page out the BBB for reference in your game its
not a violation of copywrite.
If you scan it and post it to this list or your webpage then you have violated
the copywrite.

I am a lawyer, and my roommate in law school is now a patent attorney, so
I have some background
in this. Also for the record I am old enough, been a member of this list on
and off (mostly off, unfortunately)
since 1995 and a proud owner of a SR1 hardcover (much used and abused) so sign
me up for the
"retirement" village.

Chris
"I don't need no stinkin' sig" ;-)