The Right to Copy (Copyright?)

                    By Jim Johnston

While looking through my database of adventure solutions and
reminiscing on the various sources they had come from (self
completed, other adventurers, original author, magazine,
downloaded), a small thought occurred to me.

Where do adventure solutions and maps lie within the copyright
laws?

Now don't get me wrong.  I am fully aware of the frustrations of
adventure playing and the pleasure of cracking another adventure
puzzle.  As an adventure co-author, I know the pleasure of seeing
my work reviewed, discussed, mapped and solved in print, by
others. I know my interest has been heightened and sustained by,
what must be the life blood of adventuring, adventure specific
magazines.

I just thought ......

It must be accepted that the adventure author/creator holds
copyright to his adventure in its entirety. This includes the
original maps and solution(s) laid down by him in the adventure.

In my collection are maps and solutions supplied, on my request,
by the adventure author. Is it right for me, having thus acquired
these maps and solutions, to now publish, print and/or sell them?

I also have maps and solutions which I produced by completing
adventures myself and some completed by others and
given/exchanged/sold to me. Do I have the right to publish, print
and/or sell them, in spite of the fact that they must be more or
less accurate copies of material which is subject to the copyright
laws?

Some of my maps and solutions are derived from various computer
magazines.  These magazines claim copyright to ALL material
published.  If the copyright is vested in the original creator
and he has not given up his copyright, is it legal for them to
publish part of his work, without his authority, and then claim
copyright to themselves?  If I now copy their copy and publish,
print and/or sell the result, whose copyright have I broken?

And then I thought .....

I wonder if someone has already written an article on the
copyright of maps and solutions to adventure games and am I in
breach of copyright?

And then I thought ......