FrankL Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 I'm working on a Cthulhu mythos-related short story. In the story, I want a game like CoC to play a part. The main character is a gamer who played it a while back. Then I became concerned about legal issues. I can mention anything from HPL's stories without fear as he released them into the public domain so that others could build on it. However, this isn't parody, so I can't name the game CoC, any modules, events or characters that are first used in the modules. I'm perfectly okay with this in principle. However, as the character played the game and his old character sheet and SAN rules actually play a pivotal role in the unfolding plot, I've gotten myself into a corner. I believe I can refer to his SAN score and other stats without worry. It's the name of the game that I'm stuck on. I need a name that a reader would identify as mythos-related but it can't be Call of Cthulhu or similar trademarked name like Trail of Cthulhu. Can anyone help me? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Unless you are using the trademarked game name in a defamatory way, I don't think you have much to worry about. Trademarked stuff gets mentioned in fiction all the time. It sounds like you want to do what "Knights of the Dinner Table" did and make up a name for the game that is similar (I think they use "Scream of Cthulhu" in the comic). If you google "using trademarked name in short story" you will find a lot of advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christougher Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Mythos & Madness? Annoy two properties at the same time! Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankL Posted June 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Earlier today, I read this piece (which also comes up with the google search above). It's the "defamatory" way that makes me pause. What might they consider defamatory? The game starts becoming real to the ex-gamer. While looking at his old char sheet, he jokes about an event causing him to lose a SAN roll and the sheet changes before his eyes. One morning he wakes up in Arkham, Mass, 1923. This is, of course, a bad thing. But would it be considered defamatory seeing as that is the kinda thing I can see a module about? Mythos & Madness? Annoy two properties at the same time! Chris. That might be too good to not use! I'm still open to hearing other ideas and comments, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostDancer Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Arkham Adventures Return of the Old Ones Strange Aeons The Centre Cannot Hold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 What does Yeats have to do with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 From the article you posted, defamatory would mean making the game seem defective or dangerous, but they'd have to prove that some readers would actually believe as fact that the game could transport you to Arkham, 1923. I'd call that a bit of a stretch. Tarnishment would mean doing something offensive with the trademark, which I doubt you are going to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 The Stars Are Aligned Creatures in Yellow O Ryleh CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shigeru Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Rlyeh Rising In Search of the Unknown Unveiled Kadath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burrito Boy Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Tentacles & Terror Whispering in Darkness The Gate of Dreams Cool Air of Cthulhu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 destination arkham 1923 thanks for the idea steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikiman Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Earlier today, I read this piece (which also comes up with the google search above). It's the "defamatory" way that makes me pause. What might they consider defamatory? The game starts becoming real to the ex-gamer. While looking at his old char sheet, he jokes about an event causing him to lose a SAN roll and the sheet changes before his eyes. One morning he wakes up in Arkham, Mass, 1923. This is, of course, a bad thing. But would it be considered defamatory seeing as that is the kinda thing I can see a module about? That might be too good to not use! I'm still open to hearing other ideas and comments, please. If Mazes & Monsters wasn't enough for TSR to take legal action against the author/publisher and later the TV network, I doubt anyone would bat an eye at what you describe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Legends of Lovecraft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
massey Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 Given the subject matter of Call of Cthulhu, intimating that the game could transport you to Arkham in 1923 would probably be seen as an homage and not as defamatory. Of course it's still basically the plot to In The Mouth of Madness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuSoardGraphite Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Edge of Sanity In the Mind of Madness Abode of the Old Ones Elder Things that go Bump in the Night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burrito Boy Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Arkham Nights (Sung to the tune of Hollywood Nights.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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