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We have a general idea, but it would take some research to determine. If D&D and/or Gygax came up with the unique expression first, then it probably needs to go. Rust monsters, displacer beasts, owlbears, otyoghs(or however that's spelled), etc. Some stuff is probably too general to consider copyrightable, maybe like mimics.
Some stuff that feels very D&D, like drow, comes from a mythological source, and isn't likely to be removed. But you'll notice that Pathfinder drow are more purple and don't worship spiders. They have to be distinct.
The exact spread of five chromatic dragons and five metallic dragons with their associated lore has to change, because while you can't copyright dragons, you probably can raise legal trouble over such a specific interpretation.
In general, I'd expect aberrations to be the hardest hit. That's a category of monsters that got more of a start in the dungeon crawl genre.
After a bunch of googling... is it this list?
https://www.d20srd.org/indexes/monsters.htm
That's a pretty useful list! Just keep in mind that anything that has strong roots in an earlier source, like mythology, is more safe.
Yeah it is really confusing.
Beholder and Drow ... (and what have you) are now under the Creative Commons..., but these are still in the OGL.The only two that I care about are the Barghest and the Darkmantle, but I am sure there are similar monsters already (which I am not aware of).
Beholders aren't in the creative commons, no. The word "beholder" is, but you could already call a giant purple eagle a beholder without any issues. If you make an orb-like evil creature with a central eye and more eyes on stalks and call it a beholder, you're getting at least a cease and desist from Wizards.
Barghests are from folklore, so they are probably fine, although Pathfinder has de-emphasized them a bit. Darkmantles probably need a name change at least.
None of this is any sort of professional opinion, I'm just a programmer.
Beholders aren't in the creative commons, no.I think you are mistaken, but thank you for the answers anyway!
Have a great day!
You're welcome, and you too!
We know what they're doing with dragons: making them based around the four magical traditions. I think we'll get some pretty interesting results from that.