Canonfire! Forums-viewtopic-Greyhawk for the Fans

Wed Jun 18, 2025 6:34 am Greyhawk for the Fans

Hi Everyone,

I know I said to certain people of this board that I was going to buy the trademarks and copyrights to Greyhawk from Wizards of the Coast. That is no longer the case.

Greyhawk is going to you, the fans. After Wizards (and their lawyers) meet their fate, the World of Greyhawk will pass into the public domain. So, you guys win. Greyhawk will be yours.

Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:31 pm U. S. Law

I'm reading the https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html page. If I understand that webpage correctly:

In 1977, TSR had a copyright on Supplement 1 which lasted until 2004.

But in 1983, the box set shows that TSR claimed a trademark on WORLD OF GREYHAWK. So that trademark won't fall into the public domain until 2078.

The contents of Supplement 1 may have also been extended because WotC re-released it a few years ago. I think that is how Disney kept extending Mickey Mouse copyrights.