Hello,
I have a couple questions about the permitted copyright usage of the TDA rules. There is no copyright notice included with the TDA rules but they are, of course, implicitly copyrighted (by the TDA) even without a copyright notice. But what exactly is allowed as far as copying and distributing the TDA rules? For instance, this is a paragraph quoted from Roberts Rules of Poker ...
"This rulebook may be copied or downloaded by anyone, provided it is not sold for profit without written permission from the author, and the name "Robert's Rules of Poker" is used or credited. Excerpts of less than a full chapter may be used without restriction or credit. People are welcome to use these rules, and even put their own business name on them, but this does not give a person or business any rights other than to use the rules in their own establishment, or to make copies available to someone else with the same restrictions applied to the recipient as stated here. Anyone may make copies of these rules and distribute them at no charge to recipients as a business promotion without obtaining permission."
I assume that similar copyright usage rules apply to the TDA rules but making assumptions about legal issues can get a person into lots of trouble. What exactly are the permitted uses?
1. Can anyone make copies of the TDA rules and distribute them for free for use in a casino/poker room?
2. Can you sell the TDA rules? (Probably not!)
3. Can a casino/poker room place their business name on the TDA rules? Must copyright credit be given to the TDA?
4. Perhaps some sort of copyright notice should be included in future versions of the TDA rules. This would assure businesses that it is permissible to copy and distribute the TDA rules in their casino/poker room. For instance, a casino employee might photocopy the TDA rules for use in their poker room but be asked by the casino CEO if copyright permission has been obtained. It would be nice to be able to point to a paragraph in the TDA rules that states what is permissable.
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I own HomePokerTourney.com and have made several pdf poker rule books available on my site. These rule books are in a book format. You can print four pages on one piece of paper and then fold the pages in half and staple them down the spine to create a booklet of poker rules. It gives the rules more of an 'official rule book' look. You can download a copy of the TDA rule book here TDA Rules Booklet (http://www.homepokertourney.com/docs/rulebook/poker-rule-book-tda-2011-booklet.pdf) or TDA Rules Full-size (http://www.homepokertourney.com/docs/rulebook/poker-rule-book-tda-2011-fullsize.pdf). I have also posted the rules on this web page http://www.homepokertourney.com/poker-rules-tda.htm (http://www.homepokertourney.com/poker-rules-tda.htm).
I have already received copyright permission from a TDA director to create the rule book and post the rules on my site. I have sent a copy of the rule book to the PokerTDA email address in case you guys want to post it on the TDA site. I would also be willing to create a pdf booklet style TDA rule book every time that the rules are changed (every two years?).
Regards, Barry
HomePokerTourney.com
Hi Barry. The association tries within reason to allow wide use of the rules. To answer your specific questions.
1. Can anyone make copies of the TDA rules and distribute them for free for use in a casino/poker room? Yes.
2. Can you sell the TDA rules? (Probably not!). Authors have included the TDA rules in books about poker and that is acceptable as long as the TDA copyright and a link to www.PokerTDA.com appears prominently on the rules. To merely reprint a copy of the rules by itself and sell them is not authorized.
3. Can a casino/poker room place their business name on the TDA rules? Must copyright credit be given to the TDA?
The rules can be printed on casino letterhead. The TDA copyright and a link to www.PokerTDA.com should prominently appear on the rules.
4. Perhaps some sort of copyright notice should be included in future versions of the TDA rules. This would assure businesses that it is permissible to copy and distribute the TDA rules in their casino/poker room. For instance, a casino employee might photocopy the TDA rules for use in their poker room but be asked by the casino CEO if copyright permission has been obtained. It would be nice to be able to point to a paragraph in the TDA rules that states what is permissable.
One is being drafted. It allows for wide use of the rules as long as the TDA copyright appears with a link to www.PokerTDA.com. If the rules are reprinted on a website the link to www.PokerTDA.com should be live.
Thanks for your important question!