A question about the legality of stuff. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A question about the legality of stuff. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Burpcycle
07-02-06, 10:02 PM If I was going to make a webcomic based off D&D (I know it's been done, just work with me here), could I use the Forgotten Realms setting (Mystra, Cyric, ect.)? I have the book, but I'm not sure about the legality of stuff.
If not, could I use the generic gods (Heironeous, Hextor, ect.)?

I know this doesn't REALLY belong here, but I couldn't find where to post it.
ORC_Paradox
07-02-06, 10:21 PM All of that is marked as Intellectual Property, so you may not use them.
Burpcycle
07-02-06, 10:26 PM Blah, thanks.
Damior
07-02-06, 10:40 PM you can use anything in the SRD as far as I know, but nothing else.
Drodain
07-02-06, 10:48 PM nothings illegal if no one finds out lol
THIS DOES NOT MEAN I SAY USE THE STUFF
i say be as generic as possible, probably should use even broader names for stuff than dnd does fighter=warrior, sorcerer/wizard=mage that way you cant get in any trouble
AaronDireBear
07-02-06, 10:50 PM Parody is protected under the fair use clause.
A webcomic is non commercial and is like a fanfiction.
Wizards allows Fanfiction so they should allow Webcomics.
Azirthoth Ittyk the Warmage worships Mystra, and was born in the shadow of a Prismatic dragon. He hates bards, gnomes and ogre mages. He has a penchant for randomly throwing fireballs at things when he is annoyed, even if he is in Sigil (a dangerous pastime).

Copyright laws shall never take away his character! Alteration of character concept in favor of a dumb law is evil.
VrecknidjX
07-02-06, 11:34 PM Parody is protected under the fair use clause.
A webcomic is non commercial and is like a fanfiction.
Wizards allows Fanfiction so they should allow Webcomics.Much of this is probably correct. If you aren't profitting, then you might be safe going this route: create your webcomic, make it available, and publish the link on a public forum like this one. Lots of WizOs read this place, and if any of them thinks your stuff is illegal, you'll probably eventually get a notice from Wizards about some violation. If that happens, the most likely result is that you'll have to take it down (i.e. Wizards is probably not going to send the S.W.A.T. team or a gaggle of lawyers to your house).

And, don't forget, you could actually try posting your stuff here: http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=391

If it catches on there, then you're probably safe.

PS I'm not a lawyer, I don't look like a lawyer, I don't smell like a lawyer, I sometimes might sound like a lawyer (I do have a graduate degree in philosophy after all), I don't pretend to be a lawyer, and I really, really don't think you should take my advice to be sound legal advice. ... Just covering my own butt.

:)

Dave

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Burpcycle 07-02-06, 10:02 PM	If I was going to make a webcomic based off D&D (I know it's been done, just work with me here), could I use the Forgotten Realms setting (Mystra, Cyric, ect.)? I have the book, but I'm not sure about the legality of stuff. If not, could I use the generic gods (Heironeous, Hextor, ect.)? I know this doesn't REALLY belong here, but I couldn't find where to post it.
ORC_Paradox 07-02-06, 10:21 PM	All of that is marked as Intellectual Property, so you may not use them.
Burpcycle 07-02-06, 10:26 PM	Blah, thanks.
Damior 07-02-06, 10:40 PM	you can use anything in the SRD as far as I know, but nothing else.
Drodain 07-02-06, 10:48 PM	nothings illegal if no one finds out lol THIS DOES NOT MEAN I SAY USE THE STUFF i say be as generic as possible, probably should use even broader names for stuff than dnd does fighter=warrior, sorcerer/wizard=mage that way you cant get in any trouble
AaronDireBear 07-02-06, 10:50 PM	Parody is protected under the fair use clause. A webcomic is non commercial and is like a fanfiction. Wizards allows Fanfiction so they should allow Webcomics. Azirthoth Ittyk the Warmage worships Mystra, and was born in the shadow of a Prismatic dragon. He hates bards, gnomes and ogre mages. He has a penchant for randomly throwing fireballs at things when he is annoyed, even if he is in Sigil (a dangerous pastime). Copyright laws shall never take away his character! Alteration of character concept in favor of a dumb law is evil.
VrecknidjX 07-02-06, 11:34 PM	Parody is protected under the fair use clause. A webcomic is non commercial and is like a fanfiction. Wizards allows Fanfiction so they should allow Webcomics.Much of this is probably correct. If you aren't profitting, then you might be safe going this route: create your webcomic, make it available, and publish the link on a public forum like this one. Lots of WizOs read this place, and if any of them thinks your stuff is illegal, you'll probably eventually get a notice from Wizards about some violation. If that happens, the most likely result is that you'll have to take it down (i.e. Wizards is probably not going to send the S.W.A.T. team or a gaggle of lawyers to your house). And, don't forget, you could actually try posting your stuff here: http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=391 If it catches on there, then you're probably safe. PS I'm not a lawyer, I don't look like a lawyer, I don't smell like a lawyer, I sometimes might sound like a lawyer (I do have a graduate degree in philosophy after all), I don't pretend to be a lawyer, and I really, really don't think you should take my advice to be sound legal advice. ... Just covering my own butt. :) Dave