“The Fantasy Forum”—a fanzine

[tomc]

Originally Posted by stefanj

I posted pictures of my Interplay set on Twitter, as well as a shot of my one-and-only TFT article (and artwork!)

My one-and-only published article (TFT or anything else) was in Interplay #5 (The Iron Fist). My high school self was most pleased to see it published. It makes me cringe just s bit now, but it was the best I could do at the time, and that's what matters.

In the pre-internet days, Interplay and especially The Space Gamer were a lifeline for those of us in isolated game groups. I think everyone I played with learned the games from me. New ideas from "outside" were gold.

[HerkNav]

Originally Posted by JLV

Do you perhaps mean "Howard Thompson"?

No, Howard Trump who wrote several of the Programmed Adventures in this fanzine.

[JLV]

Oops. Sorry!

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by stefanj

It is really neat how the Kickstarter is prompting people to knock the dust off of old newsletters and such.

I posted pictures of my Interplay set on Twitter, as well as a shot of my one-and-only TFT article (and artwork!). Alas, the rights are tied up with Thompson. I don't think they were (C) me so the 35 year rule does not work. (It was a variant article, describing Astrology skills, plus a description of an astrologer, his house, & staff.)

I hope the Fantasy Forum stuff becomes available.

Stefan, perhaps you could just rewrite it so that it becomes an original work again?

[stefanj]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

Stefan, perhaps you could just rewrite it so that it becomes an original work again?

I was wondering about that. I could certainly give it a try, but I'd want to get an opinion on how much I'd have to change to make it legal.

[Rick_Smith]

Originally Posted by stefanj

I was wondering about that. I could certainly give it a try, but I'd want to get an opinion on how much I'd have to change to make it legal.

Hi Stefanj,
Ideas can't be copyrighted, but particular arrangements of words can be. Gygax kept the ideas behind Arneson's D&D, but used new words in D&D Second Edition. Ta Da! He didn't have to pay royalties, it was a new game!!!

Arneson sued and lost.

However, I believe SJ Games would rather play it safe, and avoid lawsuits even if they are confident that they can win. I would suggest simply writing a completely new article on a different subject.

Warm regards, Rick.

[luguvalium]

Originally Posted by stefanj

I don't think they were (C) me so the 35 year rule does not work. .

Why do you think the 35 year rule does not apply?

[stefanj]

Originally Posted by luguvalium

Why do you think the 35 year rule does not apply?

My two articles were contest entries, which in general practice become property of the contest operator . . . in this case, Metagaming. I did not hold the copyright.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by luguvalium

Why do you think the 35 year rule does not apply?

More importantly, Why does Stefanj think copyright didn't attach the moment he wrote it?

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

More importantly, Why does Stefanj think copyright didn't attach the moment he wrote it?

It did, but many design contests include legal phrasing to the effect that you assign ownership of submissions to the contest organizer. It avoids legal entanglements on their end.