*Technically* any bodies of text are copyrighted.

However, it is highly unlikely anybody will chase you down for a one-off item (since the cost of a lawyer doing anything would not be worthwhile for a one-time thing).

If you want to go into mass production, then you'll probably have to work something out with the license holder (Stern, PPS, PBResource, etc)

If you're reproducing instruction cards as part of a larger service (such as restoring an entire pin), then again, probably not worthwhile for a license holder to bother with. And technically, it's a restoration/replacement/substitution of the original (presumably damaged) item and not a new sale.

Not quite--the ideas or game rules themselves can't be copyrighted, but the written text explaining them are.

Put another way, a technical manual is not particularly "creative", but it can be copyrighted--even though it just composed of written facts, procedures, schematics, it is still a written work authored and owned by someone. This is why PBR can enforce Gottlieb copyrights for manuals and parts catalogs.

Fonts on their own are copyrighted design materials. Changing the font on a body of text will not change the text itself.

Honestly, if you're going to be mass producing someone else's materials, it's better to get permission rather than trying to toe the line and use the materials, but be technically actively trying to avoid not using them. Copyright owners want compensation for the use of their materials and want to make sure it isn't misused to reflect badly on their brand.

Look at the mess Kevin got into with Predator. Extreme example, but the same general concept applies; he didn't have permission to use the IP and materials, and got shut down for it.

Like I mentioned earlier, a font style is its own thing and has little to do with a body of text, unless it is part of a trademarked logo. You can buy fonts and use them however you see fit.

http://www.1001fonts.com/
http://www.dafont.com/
https://www.myfonts.com/
https://www.fontsquirrel.com/

As for just tweaking something to make it your own--it still might be considered a derivative work. Completely rewriting something in your own words might do it, though.

But--I am not a lawyer or expert here. And again, instruction cards aren't exactly a big ticket item on their own, but if it's part of a larger, more expensive project, then someone might take notice.

Marco has existing agreements (presumably blanket agreements) with Stern, PPS, PBResource, etc.

[edit]: Thinking about this a bit more, if you buy an officially licensed product and include it with another product, I'm pretty sure you would still have to negotiate an agreement to use a product within another product, since copyright owners have the right to specify how their IP is used/presented.

For example, if you buy Disney Princess figurines and start selling Disney Princess cakes with the figurines on top, technically Disney would probably want to have a say in how that was presented.