Legal Issues [Archive] - Wizards Community

Legal Issues [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rathje
03-15-06, 03:30 AM Alright, I don't really know where to ask this, and I thought people on the FR boards would know the most about things relative to FR, but this is also general legal things.

If I were to make a computer game based in Faerūn with RPG Maker 2003, would there be any legal problems? This game would be freely given to people, but at no cost.
Ryltar Swordsong
03-15-06, 03:53 AM I recommend contacting WotC's customer service.
Nevynxxx
03-15-06, 07:27 AM I'd say be very very careful.

Any name Wizards have used and Trademarked is off limits.

That pretty much compleatly scuppers your idea, from a legal perspective.

You are then left with one question...Will they sue? As far as I know, in most places, they have to sue to keep the trademark.

The only way to get around this is to seek Prior permission.

Play it safe, ask them nicely.

The law doesn't generally care if you are selling stuff or giving it away free, especially with respect to copywrite.
Lord Karsus
03-15-06, 09:17 AM -Eh, as long as you give WotC credit. If you were keeping this for yourself, I'd say go ahead. Since you're distributing it, matters get a little sticky. I'm a Criminal Justice major though, so would you like me to inquire while at school? I'm nice like that...
WizO_Lyoness
03-15-06, 10:14 AM And while you do that, I'll ask our admins here. :)

I should probably compile some legal info along these lines since questions like these come up fairly frequently. I'll see what I can do.

-WizO Lyoness
Dark Wizard
03-15-06, 06:21 PM Not a legal expert by any means, but if you use the WotC's trademarked and copyrighted stuff, it should be fine as long as you give proper credit to WotC, state that the work is in no way officially tied to WotC and company, and do not sell your work. Then it falls into regular and fair usage as if you were DMing and playing a regular tabletop game.
Rathje
03-15-06, 09:41 PM Well, due to the division of responses, it might be best if I just stay out of Faerūn. I didn't have my heart set on it or anything; I was just considering my options and Faerūn stood out, since it appeals to me. I can always just put the game somewhere else.

Thank you!
Lord Karsus
03-15-06, 11:45 PM Well, due to the division of responses, it might be best if I just stay out of Faerūn. I didn't have my heart set on it or anything; I was just considering my options and Faerūn stood out, since it appeals to me. I can always just put the game somewhere else.

Thank you!

-Well, that lets us off of the hook then...
EytanBernstein
03-16-06, 01:41 AM I assume you weren't planning on making any money off it it? There might be problems with it anyway. Sounds fun though.
Zsych
03-16-06, 05:09 AM People make campaign modules using Neverwinter Nights, for fun.

Those modules essentially belong to them, but as long as they aren't being sold, no one really creates a fuss(you can download them freely)

It's somewhat akin to fanfiction. People write stories for fun, and no one has really ever objected. I've seen a few cases of people having turned their own D&D(i think FR) campaigns into novel format... but seriously why would anyone make a fuss over it?

A company attacking a fan project, would probably only end up embarassing itself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rathje 03-15-06, 03:30 AM	Alright, I don't really know where to ask this, and I thought people on the FR boards would know the most about things relative to FR, but this is also general legal things. If I were to make a computer game based in Faerūn with RPG Maker 2003, would there be any legal problems? This game would be freely given to people, but at no cost.
Ryltar Swordsong 03-15-06, 03:53 AM	I recommend contacting WotC's customer service.
Nevynxxx 03-15-06, 07:27 AM	I'd say be very very careful. Any name Wizards have used and Trademarked is off limits. That pretty much compleatly scuppers your idea, from a legal perspective. You are then left with one question...Will they sue? As far as I know, in most places, they have to sue to keep the trademark. The only way to get around this is to seek Prior permission. Play it safe, ask them nicely. The law doesn't generally care if you are selling stuff or giving it away free, especially with respect to copywrite.
Lord Karsus 03-15-06, 09:17 AM	-Eh, as long as you give WotC credit. If you were keeping this for yourself, I'd say go ahead. Since you're distributing it, matters get a little sticky. I'm a Criminal Justice major though, so would you like me to inquire while at school? I'm nice like that...
WizO_Lyoness 03-15-06, 10:14 AM	And while you do that, I'll ask our admins here. :) I should probably compile some legal info along these lines since questions like these come up fairly frequently. I'll see what I can do. -WizO Lyoness
Dark Wizard 03-15-06, 06:21 PM	Not a legal expert by any means, but if you use the WotC's trademarked and copyrighted stuff, it should be fine as long as you give proper credit to WotC, state that the work is in no way officially tied to WotC and company, and do not sell your work. Then it falls into regular and fair usage as if you were DMing and playing a regular tabletop game.
Rathje 03-15-06, 09:41 PM	Well, due to the division of responses, it might be best if I just stay out of Faerūn. I didn't have my heart set on it or anything; I was just considering my options and Faerūn stood out, since it appeals to me. I can always just put the game somewhere else. Thank you!
Lord Karsus 03-15-06, 11:45 PM	Well, due to the division of responses, it might be best if I just stay out of Faerūn. I didn't have my heart set on it or anything; I was just considering my options and Faerūn stood out, since it appeals to me. I can always just put the game somewhere else. Thank you! -Well, that lets us off of the hook then...
EytanBernstein 03-16-06, 01:41 AM	I assume you weren't planning on making any money off it it? There might be problems with it anyway. Sounds fun though.
Zsych 03-16-06, 05:09 AM	People make campaign modules using Neverwinter Nights, for fun. Those modules essentially belong to them, but as long as they aren't being sold, no one really creates a fuss(you can download them freely) It's somewhat akin to fanfiction. People write stories for fun, and no one has really ever objected. I've seen a few cases of people having turned their own D&D(i think FR) campaigns into novel format... but seriously why would anyone make a fuss over it? A company attacking a fan project, would probably only end up embarassing itself.