> game mechanics and rules are NOT copyrightable. Correct. This is where patents come into place. For example https://patents.google.com/patent/US7264242 htt

> game mechanics and rules are NOT copyrightable. Correct. This is where patents come into place. For example https://patents.google.com/patent/US7264242 https://patents.google.com/patent/US7264242 and https://generalpatent.com/professor-s-company-wins-1-6-million-patent-infringement-lawsuit-over-board-games.html https://generalpatent.com/professor-s-company-wins-1-6-milli... https://patents.google.com/patent/US3208754A/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US3208754A/en is another fun one. But lore and wording gets into trouble. Is "Magic Missile" copyrighted? How about Halfling ( https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/116283 https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/116283 )? > A missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage. > You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several. Without looking which one is D&D and which one is Pathfinder? https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/magic-missile/ https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/magic-missile/ https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Magic%20Missile#content https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Magic%20Missile#content Would the pathfinder version be considered a derivative work of the D&D version (well, not that D&D version since that was 5e... still).