Extending WotC Content [Archive] - Wizards Community

Extending WotC Content [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Delendir
03-30-07, 04:25 PM Yes, this will be another thread about copyright, Open Gaming Content, and the products of the Wizards of the Coast. We are building a fantasy world, just between friends here in Finland. But we would all like to put it to the Internet as OGC. I've read through the d20 System License as well as the OGL and I do have a fair understanding of how they work.

The real problem comes when something we have devised into our world, requires the extension of content published in a WotC supplement, such as the Magic of Incarnum and the Tome of Magic. I mean lets face it, these are great books with lots of cool contents and of course if you buy them you'd like to use them.

What I would like to do, is take a concept, like the Sapphire Hierarchs from Magic of Incarnum and add the order to our world. But since none of the contents in the Magic of Incarnum are Open Content, not to mention all rights would probably still be reserved I'm worried I cannot use the material.

So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws?

I hope I was able to explain my situation correctly. I'd appreciate thoughts on this.
Ranger REG
03-30-07, 08:56 PM SEE MY DISCLAIMER BELOW...
Yes, this will be another thread about copyright, Open Gaming Content, and the products of the Wizards of the Coast. We are building a fantasy world, just between friends here in Finland. But we would all like to put it to the Internet as OGC. I've read through the d20 System License as well as the OGL and I do have a fair understanding of how they work.

The real problem comes when something we have devised into our world, requires the extension of content published in a WotC supplement, such as the Magic of Incarnum and the Tome of Magic. I mean lets face it, these are great books with lots of cool contents and of course if you buy them you'd like to use them.

What I would like to do, is take a concept, like the Sapphire Hierarchs from Magic of Incarnum and add the order to our world. But since none of the contents in the Magic of Incarnum are Open Content, not to mention all rights would probably still be reserved I'm worried I cannot use the material.

So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws?

I hope I was able to explain my situation correctly. I'd appreciate thoughts on this.
You should contact WotC on what content is okay on a fansite.

If you apply the OGL and d20STL, you're going to be very limited, since Magic of Incarnum and Tome of Magic are not covered in the STL and the accompanying Trademark Usage Guide.
spyone
04-03-07, 06:22 PM So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws?
I do not believe that would violate any copyright laws. But, the lawyers for WotC may not agree, and even if they are proven wrong it could cost you a lot of money to get that court ruling. For safety sake, I would advise steering clear.

It does seem that there should be some way to say, "The Saphire brotherhood is exactly like the Sapphire Hierarchs presented in the book Magic of Incarnumtm from Wizards of the Coast" without getting in trouble, but until/unless WotC specificly spells out a way to do it so they won't get mad at you, I'd advise avoiding it.

I have seen some stuff from WotC's legal guys on fansites, and that may cover what you want. I'd link you to the thread, but I'm having some trouble finding it.
Ranger REG
04-03-07, 07:39 PM I do not believe that would violate any copyright laws. But, the lawyers for WotC may not agree, and even if they are proven wrong it could cost you a lot of money to get that court ruling. For safety sake, I would advise steering clear.
Awww. :(

They need to be challenged. :devil:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delendir 03-30-07, 04:25 PM	Yes, this will be another thread about copyright, Open Gaming Content, and the products of the Wizards of the Coast. We are building a fantasy world, just between friends here in Finland. But we would all like to put it to the Internet as OGC. I've read through the d20 System License as well as the OGL and I do have a fair understanding of how they work. The real problem comes when something we have devised into our world, requires the extension of content published in a WotC supplement, such as the Magic of Incarnum and the Tome of Magic. I mean lets face it, these are great books with lots of cool contents and of course if you buy them you'd like to use them. What I would like to do, is take a concept, like the Sapphire Hierarchs from Magic of Incarnum and add the order to our world. But since none of the contents in the Magic of Incarnum are Open Content, not to mention all rights would probably still be reserved I'm worried I cannot use the material. So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws? I hope I was able to explain my situation correctly. I'd appreciate thoughts on this.
Ranger REG 03-30-07, 08:56 PM	SEE MY DISCLAIMER BELOW... Yes, this will be another thread about copyright, Open Gaming Content, and the products of the Wizards of the Coast. We are building a fantasy world, just between friends here in Finland. But we would all like to put it to the Internet as OGC. I've read through the d20 System License as well as the OGL and I do have a fair understanding of how they work. The real problem comes when something we have devised into our world, requires the extension of content published in a WotC supplement, such as the Magic of Incarnum and the Tome of Magic. I mean lets face it, these are great books with lots of cool contents and of course if you buy them you'd like to use them. What I would like to do, is take a concept, like the Sapphire Hierarchs from Magic of Incarnum and add the order to our world. But since none of the contents in the Magic of Incarnum are Open Content, not to mention all rights would probably still be reserved I'm worried I cannot use the material. So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws? I hope I was able to explain my situation correctly. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. You should contact WotC on what content is okay on a fansite. If you apply the OGL and d20STL, you're going to be very limited, since Magic of Incarnum and Tome of Magic are not covered in the STL and the accompanying Trademark Usage Guide.
spyone 04-03-07, 06:22 PM	So I decided to ask here, and ask what other people thought of the dilemma. Even if I'm sort of only applying what is printed on WotC book to my setting, without printing any of it (and hence making it required that people use it to buy the book) I am still forbidden from using it by the copyright laws? I do not believe that would violate any copyright laws. But, the lawyers for WotC may not agree, and even if they are proven wrong it could cost you a lot of money to get that court ruling. For safety sake, I would advise steering clear. It does seem that there should be some way to say, "The Saphire brotherhood is exactly like the Sapphire Hierarchs presented in the book Magic of Incarnumtm from Wizards of the Coast" without getting in trouble, but until/unless WotC specificly spells out a way to do it so they won't get mad at you, I'd advise avoiding it. I have seen some stuff from WotC's legal guys on fansites, and that may cover what you want. I'd link you to the thread, but I'm having some trouble finding it.
Ranger REG 04-03-07, 07:39 PM	I do not believe that would violate any copyright laws. But, the lawyers for WotC may not agree, and even if they are proven wrong it could cost you a lot of money to get that court ruling. For safety sake, I would advise steering clear. Awww. :( They need to be challenged. :devil: