The Best Resources for Developing/Publishing A d20 Setting in concordance with OGL [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Best Resources for Developing/Publishing A d20 Setting in concordance with OGL [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Alec_Myth
04-17-07, 08:16 PM Hey

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question (if it's not, please tell where I should be posting this)

But what're the best resources for developing your own D20 Setting for eventual publication and making sure that it fits with OGL.

For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game content.

So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books.

So where's the best place to get these answers?

The answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys
-A
Ranger REG
04-18-07, 01:49 AM See My Disclaimer Below...

For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game license.
Open Game Content. The License defines the Content -- OGC and PI -- and how to use them.

So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books.
The above are Product Identity. They'd rather you not use those words, but if you do, you cannot connect them nor link them to D&D version of them.

So where's the best place to get these answers?
Your lawyer.
Alec_Myth
04-18-07, 09:46 PM So from what I understand I could mention a neogi or a mind flayer but I couldn't say "Neogi are mentioned in Lords of Madness"

As for a lawyer, I assume you mean an IP lawyer who can go over the OGL.

I also assume that good people to talk to would be game developers using the D20 License and OGL who are not associated with WOTC.

Let me know and thanks.

-A
Ranger REG
04-19-07, 02:04 AM So from what I understand I could mention a neogi or a mind flayer but I couldn't say "Neogi are mentioned in Lords of Madness"
You cannot make any such association to WotC's copyrighted material that are not OGC.

As for a lawyer, I assume you mean an IP lawyer who can go over the OGL.
One who specialize in intellectual property law and licensing. The OGL is a serious legal document.

I also assume that good people to talk to would be game developers using the D20 License and OGL who are not associated with WOTC.
If you want, but like me, they can only dispense non-legal advice. That's like asking your friend who underwent gastric bypass and getting medical information from him without consulting a doctor.
spyone
04-23-07, 12:55 AM So where's the best place to get these answers?

WotC, I would think.

Basicly, your question boils down to "how can I make mention of monsters and other elements of D&D that are not Open Content in a way that won't get me sued?"
And I believe the answer to that is "by obtaining (and complying with) a seperate license from Wizards of the Coast".

Now, I have no idea how hard such a license might be to obtain. It is possable that they'd look at your, "For stats for a (insert monster name), look on page (number) of Core Rulebook 3 from WotC" and say that they were okay with that. Or it is possable that they'd want thousands of dollars and/or certain of your current or future offspring. I really have no idea how hard it might be.

But what you want, ideally, is a piece of paper from WotC stating that they agree to let you do that, or that they agree if you do certain other things. A distant second is a piece of paper from a lawyer saying that he's very certain that if WotC tried to sue you over this they would lose.
Nellisir
04-25-07, 10:45 PM Hey

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question (if it's not, please tell where I should be posting this)

But what're the best resources for developing your own D20 Setting for eventual publication and making sure that it fits with OGL.

For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game content.

So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books.

So where's the best place to get these answers?

The answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys
-A

The short answer to your sample question is: No, you can't mention them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alec_Myth 04-17-07, 08:16 PM	Hey Not sure if this is the right forum for this question (if it's not, please tell where I should be posting this) But what're the best resources for developing your own D20 Setting for eventual publication and making sure that it fits with OGL. For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game content. So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books. So where's the best place to get these answers? The answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys -A
Ranger REG 04-18-07, 01:49 AM	See My Disclaimer Below... For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game license. Open Game Content. The License defines the Content -- OGC and PI -- and how to use them. So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books. The above are Product Identity. They'd rather you not use those words, but if you do, you cannot connect them nor link them to D&D version of them. So where's the best place to get these answers? Your lawyer.
Alec_Myth 04-18-07, 09:46 PM	So from what I understand I could mention a neogi or a mind flayer but I couldn't say "Neogi are mentioned in Lords of Madness" As for a lawyer, I assume you mean an IP lawyer who can go over the OGL. I also assume that good people to talk to would be game developers using the D20 License and OGL who are not associated with WOTC. Let me know and thanks. -A
Ranger REG 04-19-07, 02:04 AM	So from what I understand I could mention a neogi or a mind flayer but I couldn't say "Neogi are mentioned in Lords of Madness" You cannot make any such association to WotC's copyrighted material that are not OGC. As for a lawyer, I assume you mean an IP lawyer who can go over the OGL. One who specialize in intellectual property law and licensing. The OGL is a serious legal document. I also assume that good people to talk to would be game developers using the D20 License and OGL who are not associated with WOTC. If you want, but like me, they can only dispense non-legal advice. That's like asking your friend who underwent gastric bypass and getting medical information from him without consulting a doctor.
spyone 04-23-07, 12:55 AM	So where's the best place to get these answers? WotC, I would think. Basicly, your question boils down to "how can I make mention of monsters and other elements of D&D that are not Open Content in a way that won't get me sued?" And I believe the answer to that is "by obtaining (and complying with) a seperate license from Wizards of the Coast". Now, I have no idea how hard such a license might be to obtain. It is possable that they'd look at your, "For stats for a (insert monster name), look on page (number) of Core Rulebook 3 from WotC" and say that they were okay with that. Or it is possable that they'd want thousands of dollars and/or certain of your current or future offspring. I really have no idea how hard it might be. But what you want, ideally, is a piece of paper from WotC stating that they agree to let you do that, or that they agree if you do certain other things. A distant second is a piece of paper from a lawyer saying that he's very certain that if WotC tried to sue you over this they would lose.
Nellisir 04-25-07, 10:45 PM	Hey Not sure if this is the right forum for this question (if it's not, please tell where I should be posting this) But what're the best resources for developing your own D20 Setting for eventual publication and making sure that it fits with OGL. For instance, according to the SRD, creatures like beholders, neogi, githyanki etc... are not open game content. So does that mean that I can't even mention these creatures in any published works or just that I should refer to them and make sure I point them towards the standard D&D books. So where's the best place to get these answers? The answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys -A The short answer to your sample question is: No, you can't mention them.