The Copyright Office factsheet on games explains exactly this:Ĭopyright does not protect the idea for a game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it. In the context of games, § 102(b) means that rules, game mechanics, and any other functional elements-in addition to the overall idea-of a game are not copyrightable.

This means that neither ideas nor functional elements-such as procedures, processes, systems, or methods of operation-are copyrightable. Thus, each has independent force and effect. Section 102(b) of the Copyright Act states: “In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.”1 In using the word “or,” the statute lists these exclusions-ideas, procedures, processes, systems, methods of operation, concepts, principles, or discoveries-disjunctively. Join the Kobold Press community in our official Discordto unlock new secrets about our upcoming project. To receive future announcements and to register to playtest this new core fantasy ruleset, please sign up VIA THIS FORM. Rest assured, Kobold Press intends to maintain a strong presence in the tabletop RPG community. We aim to play our part in making the game better for everyone. While we wait to see what the future holds, we are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it-Code Name: Project Black Flag.Īll Kobolds look forward to the continued evolution of tabletop gaming. We are working with our VTT partners to maintain support for digital platforms.Īs we look ahead, it becomes even more important for our actions to represent our values. In particular, Deep Magic Volume 2 will remain fully compatible with the 5E rules. This means Kobold Press will release its current Kickstarter projects as planned, including Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns (already printed and on its way to backers this winter). Our goal is to continue creating the best materials for players and game masters alike. Kobold Press has been and always will be committed to open gaming and the tabletop community.

Kobold landscape materials