David Artman wrote: > 2009/11/28 Doug Orleans <dougorleans@xxxxxxxxx> > >> BoardGameNews.com recently mentioned a new abstract strategy game >> called Welt der Türme (World of the Towers): >> >> http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/comments/intellego_holzspiele_releases_welt_der_tuerme/ >> > > Yes, that would be easy to play with Icehouse, like Oshi: > http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23935 > > I like the idea of doing it with a white Knight (small) on Yellow 'mids and > a black Knight on blue. It also looks like there's a "side hole" between the > fourth and fifth ranks, which I'd bet is the goal spot for the knights. > > But here's the rub: Assuming someone gets the full rules to it (and Oshi, > for that matter), is it ethical to reproduce them for use with Icehouse > 'mids and a chessboard? (Assuming the rules aren't released with a CC > License or into public domain.) It's one thing to translate ancient games > like Snakes and Ladders or make variations on games like Chess--they've been > public domain for centuries. It's another thing to impact a custom game > maker's sales by circumventing the need for their product, even if Icehouse > Game System provides both the three scales and the stackability necessary to > play (hmmm... makes one wonder if it wasn't developed or playtested using > Icehouse 'mids, come to think of it...). Thoughts? > People make homemade sets all the time. http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/30784 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/19599 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/15190 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/9252 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/1283 etc... My understanding is you cannot copyright the actual content of the game rules (in North America anyway: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl108.html). You can copyright the actual printed representation of the rules (illegal to photocopy and distribute the published rulebook) or to exactly duplicate card and board art (Bohnanza and Carcassonne), but once the rules themselves are released, there is nothing stopping anybody from adapting whatever resources they have to play the game. The game here in question can be played on a regular chess board, and stacking pieces are certainly not new. I see no issue whatsoever. That said, if one is concerned about encouraging and supporting a game designer/publisher, it is certainly in your power to still purchase a retail copy of the game. I wouldn't make a homemade copy of Cannon, for example, at least not without buying one from David first. Cheers! Aaron