Kuo-toans are not d20 so... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Kuo-toans are not d20 so... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
celticfrost973
06-27-07, 12:07 AM If I wanted to create a module that uses monsters of my own creation, how similar could I make them to Kuo-toas without crossing the SRD line?

I'm not interested in ripping anyone off or violating anyone else's intellectual property. However, I would like to build a module that uses semi-aquatic, evil humanoids of about CR 2 (like Kuo-toas). Not even sure I'd try to sell it, it's more of an experiment to have some fun game designing and making something that is professional in appearance, creative and fun to play through.

Thanks for any insight, I find it hard to wade through all the "legal-ese" in the SRD.
Ranger REG
06-28-07, 03:20 AM 1. Put away all copyrighted material about Kuo-toa in a locked drawer, cabinet, footlocker, or somesuch.

2. Use the SRD and your own imagination of what YOUR semi-aquatic, evil humanoid should be.
Light_Colonel
06-28-07, 10:39 AM Lizardfolk and Sahaugin are in the SRD aren't they?
i_am_some_guy
06-28-07, 06:15 PM ....Not even sure I'd try to sell it, it's more of an experiment to have some fun game designing and making something that is professional in appearance, creative and fun to play through....

If you have no intention of selling it at all then you can do whatever the hell you want. You can take the pages out of the book, smear them with honey, and glue them to your body... as long as it's just for you then it doesn't matter

when you try to sell it, or in any way compete with a producer of a work, then you're crossing the line

case in point -- years ago I knew a guy that mimographed AD&D and his own typed rules to create a new game. He paid to bind and print 5 or 6 copies of them. When he ran games he'd hand the books to his players, but they never left the room without him. He wouldn't show them to anyone else, he'd only "talk" about them; and he had no intention of making any profit off them. He was okay since there was no way it could be proven that he had financially damaged TSR in anyway (espeically since he and his players owned every book anyway) and was not attempting to compete with them.

The laws are a bit different now than they were back then, but the concept is still the same.

I would strongly reccomend that everyone that has questions on this go to the Library of Congress (http://www.copyright.gov/) and read everything there on copyright. Anyone that has a question should go there first and not rely on any answer given by someone in a forum; even if they have a WOTC in their name. And the really big one is if you have real questions becuase you're going to publish you must get a lawyer.
Ranger REG
06-29-07, 02:14 AM If you have no intention of selling it at all then you can do whatever the hell you want. You can take the pages out of the book, smear them with honey, and glue them to your body... as long as it's just for you then it doesn't matter.
If you do that, then I suggest you do not apply the OGL, and take your chance with the standard IP law.
i_am_some_guy
06-29-07, 11:33 AM If you do that, then I suggest you do not apply the OGL, and take your chance with the standard IP law.

I'm not sure if standard IP law actually covers gluing pages to your body... though, I bet if we search there is some performance artist that did that somewhere.....
Ranger REG
06-30-07, 03:38 AM I'm not sure if standard IP law actually covers gluing pages to your body... though, I bet if we search there is some performance artist that did that somewhere.....
Dude, whatever your fetish, please keep it behind closed doors. :evillaugh

Kidding aside, it's not a matter of whether you're selling them or giving it away for free. Under the letter of the law, if you're illegally distributing someone else's material (that is, you're giving it away without the permission of the author), then you're infringing on someone's copyright.
i_am_some_guy
07-02-07, 12:07 PM Dude, whatever your fetish, please keep it behind closed doors. :evillaugh

Kidding aside, it's not a matter of whether you're selling them or giving it away for free. Under the letter of the law, if you're illegally distributing someone else's material (that is, you're giving it away without the permission of the author), then you're infringing on someone's copyright.

Exactly! Competing doesn't mean selling, it means that your actions can/potentially financially harm the rightful copyright owner.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
celticfrost973 06-27-07, 12:07 AM	If I wanted to create a module that uses monsters of my own creation, how similar could I make them to Kuo-toas without crossing the SRD line? I'm not interested in ripping anyone off or violating anyone else's intellectual property. However, I would like to build a module that uses semi-aquatic, evil humanoids of about CR 2 (like Kuo-toas). Not even sure I'd try to sell it, it's more of an experiment to have some fun game designing and making something that is professional in appearance, creative and fun to play through. Thanks for any insight, I find it hard to wade through all the "legal-ese" in the SRD.
Ranger REG 06-28-07, 03:20 AM	1. Put away all copyrighted material about Kuo-toa in a locked drawer, cabinet, footlocker, or somesuch. 2. Use the SRD and your own imagination of what YOUR semi-aquatic, evil humanoid should be.
Light_Colonel 06-28-07, 10:39 AM	Lizardfolk and Sahaugin are in the SRD aren't they?
i_am_some_guy 06-28-07, 06:15 PM	....Not even sure I'd try to sell it, it's more of an experiment to have some fun game designing and making something that is professional in appearance, creative and fun to play through.... If you have no intention of selling it at all then you can do whatever the hell you want. You can take the pages out of the book, smear them with honey, and glue them to your body... as long as it's just for you then it doesn't matter when you try to sell it, or in any way compete with a producer of a work, then you're crossing the line case in point -- years ago I knew a guy that mimographed AD&D and his own typed rules to create a new game. He paid to bind and print 5 or 6 copies of them. When he ran games he'd hand the books to his players, but they never left the room without him. He wouldn't show them to anyone else, he'd only "talk" about them; and he had no intention of making any profit off them. He was okay since there was no way it could be proven that he had financially damaged TSR in anyway (espeically since he and his players owned every book anyway) and was not attempting to compete with them. The laws are a bit different now than they were back then, but the concept is still the same. I would strongly reccomend that everyone that has questions on this go to the Library of Congress (http://www.copyright.gov/) and read everything there on copyright. Anyone that has a question should go there first and not rely on any answer given by someone in a forum; even if they have a WOTC in their name. And the really big one is if you have real questions becuase you're going to publish you must get a lawyer.
Ranger REG 06-29-07, 02:14 AM	If you have no intention of selling it at all then you can do whatever the hell you want. You can take the pages out of the book, smear them with honey, and glue them to your body... as long as it's just for you then it doesn't matter. If you do that, then I suggest you do not apply the OGL, and take your chance with the standard IP law.
i_am_some_guy 06-29-07, 11:33 AM	If you do that, then I suggest you do not apply the OGL, and take your chance with the standard IP law. I'm not sure if standard IP law actually covers gluing pages to your body... though, I bet if we search there is some performance artist that did that somewhere.....
Ranger REG 06-30-07, 03:38 AM	I'm not sure if standard IP law actually covers gluing pages to your body... though, I bet if we search there is some performance artist that did that somewhere..... Dude, whatever your fetish, please keep it behind closed doors. :evillaugh Kidding aside, it's not a matter of whether you're selling them or giving it away for free. Under the letter of the law, if you're illegally distributing someone else's material (that is, you're giving it away without the permission of the author), then you're infringing on someone's copyright.
i_am_some_guy 07-02-07, 12:07 PM	Dude, whatever your fetish, please keep it behind closed doors. :evillaugh Kidding aside, it's not a matter of whether you're selling them or giving it away for free. Under the letter of the law, if you're illegally distributing someone else's material (that is, you're giving it away without the permission of the author), then you're infringing on someone's copyright. Exactly! Competing doesn't mean selling, it means that your actions can/potentially financially harm the rightful copyright owner.