Does SSG own the Dungeons & Dragons Online name?

[lilgeek]

I was on my computer minding my business before logging on to Dungeons & Dragons Online and saw an ad for "Play Dungeons & Dragons Online" from roll20.net.

I was wondering how the heck Roll20 can have an ad for Dungeons & Dragons Online and not get slapped with a cease & desist.

 

[nicholas]

Yes the game is its Own License

 

[rabidfox]

It's likely the difference between let's play "Dungeons & Dragons Online®" vs lets play Dungeons & Dragons online. One refers to playing the Trademarked video game name vs one referring to playing Dungeons & Dragons while online.

 

[Dielzen]

I have noticed (many times) that the splash screen only lists the copyright thru like 2023

 

[JohnLuke]

No they no longer own it. They just cross their fingers and really really really really really hope nobody noticed.

 

[Blaster]

The current president of WotC had no clue DDO existed when he did an interview last year or so about joining the company. Funny thing is, he came from WoW, so you figured he’d know a little about other MMOs in the marketplace, but nope. (Maybe then there no surprise that he’s leaving this job next month after less than two years at the position.)

 

[lilgeek]

So I looked up the trademark. Dungeons and Dragons Online is trademarked by Wizards of the Coast. (Since 2005.)

 

[seph1roth5]

And that's why 1-2 people wander into the DDO discord every day asking for help with their character sheet/campaigns/finding a group lol.

 

[nicholas]

So I looked up the trademark. Dungeons and Dragons Online is trademarked by Wizards of the Coast. (Since 2005.)

this is a Lie... DDO is its own license... If you still think WOTC Owns us you need your head checked

 

[lilgeek]

this is a Lie... DDO is its own license... If you still think WOTC Owns us you need your head checked

No, it is not a lie. You should carefully consider your choice of words before calling someone a liar.

"Dungeons and Dragons Online" is a trademark of WOTC (https://trademarks.justia.com/766/52/dungeons-dragons-76652349.html) which is not surprising as Dungeons and Dragons is (unfortunately) owned by WOTC. The Dungeons and Dragons Online MMO is copyrighted and owned by SSG and (I assume) has a licensing agreement with WOTC that allows them use of the Dungeons and Dragons Online name as part of their licensing of Dungeons and Dragons from WOTC.

 

[Owlbear]

SSG has a licence to use the name and the content that comes with it. That's why they can't use all dnd content. They only have the licence to a certain part. WotC owns Dungeon's & Dragons so also all the names that come with it.

 

[lilgeek]

The current president of WotC had no clue DDO existed when he did an interview last year or so about joining the company. Funny thing is, he came from WoW, so you figured he’d know a little about other MMOs in the marketplace, but nope. (Maybe then there no surprise that he’s leaving this job next month after less than two years at the position.)

In my experience, presidents of companies rarely have an in depth understanding of the company that they "run"*. Most of the time they are either lawyers or finance people.

* In most cases the running seems to be of the "running into the ground" variety.

 

[stubby68]

this is a Lie... DDO is its own license... If you still think WOTC Owns us you need your head checked

I just scrolled down to the bottom of THIS page.

I'm going to go make some coffee.

 

[Arkat]

this is a Lie... DDO is its own license... If you still think WOTC Owns us you need your head checked

There's a difference between owning a trademark and owning a game.

WotC owns the trademark for Dungeons and Dragons Online®.

They do not own the Dungeons and Dragons Online game (what we play) itself.

 

[nicholas]

There's a difference between owning a trademark and owning a game.

WotC owns the trademark for Dungeons and Dragons Online®.

They do not own the Dungeons and Dragons Online game (what we play) itself

That doesnt mean anything they own the license, itsthere own IP

 

[Arkat]

That doesnt mean anything they own the license, itsthere own IP

You would be wrong. Dungeons and Dragons the roleplaying game is the IP of WotC.

The Dungeons & Dragons® and Dungeons & Dragons Online® trademarks are also owned by WotC.

The actual game (Dungeons & Dragons Online) itself is NOT owned by WotC. It was made by Turbine Entertainment under a license from WotC. That license has been renewed several times by Turbine and then by SSG. The license does NOT give ANY ownership of the online game to WotC itself as long as SSG keeps paying WotC any licensing fees/royalties as defined in the licensing agreement.

This is the legal world of contracts and intellectual property. You are out of your league here. Please stop before you embarrass yourself further.

 

[Mokune]

This thread reminds of the dude who noticed the McDonald's straw patent had expired. Somehow bought the rights to it forcing Ronald to change the straw design so they wouldn't have to pay the dude royalties for the billions of OG straws stored in a warehouse.

 

[Gimp]

Interesting how you think is a patent work. If it expires it lapses into the public domain. There is nothing to buy and can be used freely. Keep you patent payments current and up to date.

Mokune you should ask google about your little tale there. It comes back as a hard FALSE.

Mcdonalds has never made such payments and straws were long out of patent protection by the time McDonalds was in business.

 

[JohnLuke]

I'm working on a patent for straws made of, get this, PAPER. I'm really hopeful it'll be a success, please wish me luck.

 

[Mokune]

Interesting how you think is a patent work. If it expires it lapses into the public domain. There is nothing to buy and can be used freely. Keep you patent payments current and up to date.

Mokune you should ask google about your little tale there. It comes back as a hard FALSE.

Mcdonalds has never made such payments and straws were long out of patent protection by the time McDonalds was in business.

McDonald's patent on its straws is for the Diameter of the straw which is slightly bigger than most and the Yellow stripe on the straw. I know there are people out there who remember when they omitted the Yellow stripe for a period of time and replaced it with all red stripes. This was iirc late 90s or early 2000s.