Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > You seem to have already noted this, but I should re-emphasize that > since the Tolkien novels are still under copyright, then legally the > names from them are just as much risky choices as names from Pratchett > are.
Does anyone seriously think that copyright applies to names? I've never heard of copyright applying to anything smaller than a haiku. (I don't think the following forms part of a relevant argument, but if there is such a thing as copyright on names you might want to print out all vaguely pronouncable combinations of up to about 10 letters, whack an ISBN on the print-out, deposit it in the national library, send a complimentary copy to Pratchett by registered post, then sue him next time he invents a "new" name.)
