I've seen various postings here regarding the copyright laws, mostly bemoaning the imaginary loss of originality as TSR defends their products. I must admit that I am appalled by the sentiments I have seen.      At no point did TSR even intimate that they planned to sue any individual. What they said, essentially,  was that unsanctioned use of explicitly copyrighted material opens the user up to the risk of lawsuits. This was in reference to direct questions about writing DM-assisting software. If you carry the reasoning foreward, and take the response in context, it means:      If you write a software version of the AD&D rules, that will infringe our (TSR's) rights as a company to sell the products of our imaginations (as people) and make a living. Therefore, we will have to shut that down.      At no point did anyone suggest that creating an adventure module would provoke a lawsuit, nor has anyone suggested that a compilation of *original* spells, encounters, monsters, etc. would be so punished.     OTOH, I have seen numerous requests for would someone post the text of this TSR published rulebook or would someone photocopy and send me the text  of that product , both actions which are clearly in violation of copyright law. Anyone posting such material puts themselves at risk of prosecution, and opens their site up to litigation for not policing itself.      This is no different than copying musical tapes and distributing them to friends, or casual software piracy. Both of these actions occur frequently, and both are in direct violation of the law. I also consider them morally wrong, as they deny the originator of the material his or her fair rewards for their works.      I have also noticed that some of the loudest protesters have, in their signatures, references to getting paid for making a living. I'd like to ask them to acknowledge that such is exactly what TSR is doing.      In short, if the material isn't up to your standards, do not buy it. If you do buy it, and still do not feel satisfied with it, then post a comment stating why. Otherwise, stop complaining about the evils of a (theoretically) market-driven economy when the actions you support are of questionable legal merit.      Now that's my $0.02 worth, and I can say that I personally paid from my own pocket for the time it has taken to compose and post it. How many of you self-appointed defenders of individual _expression_ can say the same?

:      Now that's my $0.02 worth, and I can say that I personally paid from : my own pocket for the time it has taken to compose and post it. How many : of you self-appointed defenders of individual _expression_ can say the same? Me. I too pay for my internet account. This does not give you or I some sort of moral high ground with which to qualify our opinions, and I find the theory that it should somewhat feeble to say the least.  I make no qualms whatsoever about TSR being entirely within their rights to defend their copyright as much as the law allows. I understand their stance.         TSR feels individual TSR-related creations deprive them of income, and they very well may be right. Yes, one can make a case that if somebody sees a TSR-related creation on the net, then that person would be more inclined to buy TSR products. On the other hand, the case can be made that if somebody gets a D&D adventure over the net, they may later decide they don't need to buy a TSR-produced adventure, thus depreving TSR of income. Again, I have no qualms with this; TSR is entirely within their rights to take such a stance.         My _object_ion stems from the fact that taking such a stance has detrimental effect on the gaming community.  As I wrote in an earlier post, other gaming companies such as Steve Jackson Games and Games Workshop actually seem to encourage such a free exchange of ideas as occurs on the net.  These companies seem to want to cooperate with the wishes of their customers as far as internet-_base_d material goes. And please take note that these companies are very probably every bit as much in favor of making money as TSR         TSR, on the other hand, seems more interested in maintaining a strangle hold on their material. Again, I don't question their right to do so - I question their zeal in doing so. The argument has been advanced: Well, TSR hasn't taken any action yet! While it is true they have not, their statement of intent is fairly clear, and already has had a detrimental effect, i.e. the shutdown of ftp.mpgm.com. And, I would rather persuade them to take a less inflexible stance now, before any imminent lawsuits actually begin.         If TSR wishes to be seen as a dynamic company that continues to grow and evolve, then it must recognize the realities of dealing with the internet community. I do not suggest that they should preclude the possibility of enforcing their copyright. Rather, I suggest they should enter into a policy by which they would be more receptive to publishing or otherwise endorsing the work of outside writers.  Some of the Net.Handbooks and other material rivals in quality the product that TSR itself puts out. From a purely business standpoint, TSR might very well be better off working with such writers to enhance the richness of the gaming community, rather then simply trying to stamp their work out of existence.  If TSR is comfortable with the way they are starting to be seen, namely as a megalithic, antagonistic, unchangingly unresponsive company, then by all means it should continue with its present method of doing business. This includes saturating the market with supplements for every conceivable and inconceivable aspect of gaming, as well as recycling old art and old ideas. As an example of this, I refer you to the SpellFire product. TSR could have taken the time, expense, and effort to produce original artwork for this project; they did not, and I feel the finished product is inferior for that reason.         In closing, I must ask you to not take this as a flame of TSR. I still think of the company as TSR, not as T$R, and I started my rich roleplaying experience on the old red box Basic D&D game.  But, sadly, as long as TSR continues in its present attitudes toward protection of its rights, then I cannot in good conscience, and therefore will not, buy any TSR products. P.S. to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it : Sorry if this is a bit long winded...he got my dander up with that I pay for this, so my opinion is worth more attitude. P.P.S. to Silveras: I pay 12.50 per month for 6 hours net time per day. If you pay more for your account, does that make your opinion worth more then mine?

Many university students pay for their internet accounts through the fees they pay for tuition.  don't get snotty about it just cause you get a bill   once a month.  

     I have also noticed that some of the loudest protesters have, in their signatures, references to getting paid for making a living. I'd like to ask them to acknowledge that such is exactly what TSR is doing.      In short, if the material isn't up to your standards, do not buy it. If you do buy it, and still do not feel satisfied with it, then post a comment stating why. Otherwise, stop complaining about the evils of a (theoretically) market-driven economy when the actions you support are of questionable legal merit.      Now that's my $0.02 worth, and I can say that I personally paid from my own pocket for the time it has taken to compose and post it. How many of you self-appointed defenders of individual _expression_ can say the same? I confess. I'm on a corporate account. Rob Repp                           | InterNet: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Manager, Digital Projects Group    | InterNet: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it TSR, Inc.                          | CompuServe: 76217,761 __________________________________ | GEnie: TSR.Online  AOL: TSR Inc All opinions are my own, not TSR's | 414-248-3625    Fax 414-248-0389

My sentiments exactly. Not only that, but TSR doesn't have the time (or by the complaining people's ideas, money to waste (if they wont waste money on a quality product, why that? Just to bother you? Don't flatter yourself)) to find every minor violation (even if it ment creating modules etc.). Contrary to populat beleif TSR isn't CE, nor NE, nor even LE. TSR is CN. They want to make money, and if the only way that can be attained is by selling junky products at high prices, so be it. If you have a complaint about that, send it to TSR, but don't flame them all over rec.games.frp.dnd. Thank you for your time,

: My sentiments exactly. Not only that, but TSR doesn't have the time (or : by the complaining people's ideas, money to waste (if they wont waste : money on a quality product, why that? Just to bother you? Don't flatter : yourself)) to find every minor violation (even if it ment creating : modules etc.). Contrary to populat beleif TSR isn't CE, nor NE, nor even : LE. TSR is CN. They want to make money, and if the only way that can be : attained is by selling junky products at high prices, so be it. If you : have a complaint about that, send it to TSR, but don't flame them all : over rec.games.frp.dnd. : Thank you for your time, I hardly see how my response to the issue qualfied as a flame. Perhaps you're being a bit oversensitive?