Copyright and single words

[deeble]

I'm thinking of using the term 'magocracy' -- rule by wizards -- in an original work, but I'm having trouble figuring out whether it's under copyright. (It appears to have originated with Dungeons and Dragons, though there's also a game by that name

Comments

[duckodeath]

It's not copyright you need to worry about, it is whether the term is trademarked.

[deeble]

Yeah, I realized that about a minute after I hit "post." Ah well. ::headdesk::

[major_clanger]

McDonald's is perhaps a bad example, because it is such a well-known brand that the burger company might assert any commercial use of it to be infringement of the 'riding on the coat-tails' variety, unless there was a defence such as "but my name is Sally McDonald". In general though, I agree - no copyright in single words and trademark use would probably not be an issue here.

[swan_tower]

I believe there was a lawsuit against a "McSleep" chain of motels for exactly that reason, yes.

[randomstasis]

"unless there was a defence such as "but my name is Sally McDonald""
lol- and maybe not then- a few years back McDonalds tried to sue the MacDonald of Clan MacDonald for infringement- in Scotland! Guess who won that one?

[ffutures]

Possibly change it to Mageocracy to be on the safe side?

[syntinen_laulu]

Besides, quite apart from any trademark/copyright issues, without the E the first syllable looks as though it should rhyme with hag and bag.

[deeble]

That is true.

[serpent_849]

i have to admit that as a non-native speaker of English I didn't even understand the word before seeing this comment:)

[major_clanger]

Certainly English copyright law says not, as set out in Exxon v Exxon, and it sounds from what you found that US law takes the same view.

[deeble]

That's an interesting case. Thanks!

[deeble]

Thanks for the suggestion! (D&D and the game are separate, as far as I can tell.)