Now that WotC is moving to a purely PDF delivery of their adventures for Encounters (and likely Expeditions) I've found it increasingly difficult to effectively organize events for my city as most of my DMs don't have laptop computers that they can use to run an adventure from and trying to print the adventures using home printers can be extremely expensive for those that have access to printers that can handle 100 page plus print jobs. When we tried getting copies made professionally (which could be done at a discount since most professional outfits use a high capacity printer designed to accomodate large jobs), but most professional outfits won't touch them because they have the copyright and trademark logos forbidding reproduction.
While such printing restrictions made sense when a printed copy was being provided (either for free or for puchase) for sanctioned events, now that we are required to receive a PDF copy instead of a printed copy (at a savings for WotC no doubt) but are not allowed to print the PDF we receive is excessively restrictive (especially if WotC truly wants encourage more people to be involved in Dungeons and Dragons).
My quesiton is this: Is there currently a plan in the works to either set up a copyright release and / or include language within the documentation for either stores and / or event organizers to be permitted to print the Encounters and Expeditions adventures? It can be done as currently the updated characters sheets (also copyrighted and trademarked) include the statement "Permission is granted to photocopy this document for personal use." after the Trademark and Copyright information. Any feedback on this item would be greatly appreciated.
As an interesting side note (interesting to me anyway), as part of my employment I have access to legal services in my area. I inquired about the copyright laws and how they apply to this situation to my attorneys. One thing they pointed out was this statement listed on the cover of the Basic Rules: "Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast." Apparently, since the whole Napster fiasco around 1999 to 2001, electronic downloading of material is also considered a "reproduction" and subject to the same protections and copyright laws as printed materials. That being the case, since neither I, nor I imagine anyone else, has express written permission from WotC to download the Basic Rules, the very act of doing so could be construed as a copyright violation.
This is legalese that the legal department must follow Im sure there is fair use clause and don't think you will have any problem with WoTC if you print them to run your D&D games.
Someone pointed out the same thing in a thread here or at EnWorld about the Basic rules permission and they even released a "printer friendly" version, yet the permission don't seem to allow it.
Plaguescarred wrote:
Plaguescarred wrote:
If those place refuse to print the ''Printer Friendly'' version saying permission is not granted, then tough luck.
I wish WoTC would change disclaimer to add permission, but i wouldn't be surprised if they don't.
I've request my local WPN store to print the material themselves as they are the ones sanctioning the events.
Plaguescarred wrote:
TSRO_Kip wrote:
Plaguescarred wrote:
Adinell, I like your statement. Well said!! I think that WotC just does not understand that people invensting time and money into something like this should have a say in what is going to happen to their area and copmmunity too. But unfortunately in my experience with WotC that just is not the case. But they could change and it is my fervent hope that they do sometime soon. But to be honest I am not going to hold my breath especially with a "Tough Luck" statment from a person that seems to know them so well and almost speaks for them on these forums ( or seems to imply at times). 
Mirtek wrote:
TSRO_Kip wrote:
Adinell wrote:
TSRO_Kip wrote:
Alphastream1 wrote:
Plaguescarred wrote:
Adinell wrote:
Pauper wrote:
Adinell wrote:
Daedalus1969 wrote:
pedr wrote:
I'm going to suggest that this entire thread probably belongs on one of the 5e forums and not under the DnDAL forums. The DnDAL Admins, being volunteers that just help run the OP, have zero ability to influence company policy.
I posted in this thread because of the "must defend copyrights" misinformation. I should probably not have remarked on the other aspects, as they're less commonly raised issues, but felt I ought to try to refute the oft-asserted statement that companies can risk losing their copyright by failing to "vigourously" pursue infringement. This is entirely different to the law on trademarks, so referring to those is of no help. (And even more so for contract law). WotC do have to take steps to reduce the risk that people will use the term "D&D" in the course of trade in ways which could lead to it being a generic term for roleplaying games. They do not have to sue everyone who has posted pictures of their printed copies of the Basic Rules on Twitter, or even threaten to do so, to maintain the copyright over the words in the document.
While I'm not a US copyright law expert, the amendments made by the No Electronic Theft Act do not appear to apply in any way to this thread, the document being discussed having no retail value.
It's perhaps illustrative of the difficulty of the "no right to download" point that there's no way to read the prohibition on making reproductions until a reproduction has actually been made.
Of course I actually agree with your general point: WotC should make it clear that printing is allowed so that in jurisdictions where that is unclear without such a statement, individuals and print shops can be confident that printing is permitted. The language used by Evil Hat is probably not suitable for WotC, given the differences in culture between the two companies, but the approach is very sensible: http://www.teleread.com/copy-right/evil-hats-atomic-robo-copyright-notice-smooths-the-way-for-gamers-making-copies/ - Lawyers will say that tradition requires clear unambiguous statements like the ones printed in the basic rules, and they might be right. But there's no reason not to then clearly state the circumstances where printing is allowed, and I hope WotC adds such a statement.
(Sorry, cross-posted with Skerrit, and not going to add any more on this!)
With the release of DDEN1: Hoard of the Dragon Queen, a new copyright statement has been included permitting the copying of this adventure and I've received confirmation from my local print shop that making copies will no longer be an issue. Assuming that WotC maintains this policy with their future adventures, it now makes this thread a mute point. I appreciate everyone's opinions and have enjoyed discussing this issue.
I did ask on Twitter and Wizards replied that they had seen your thread and were taking it into account. Glad to see they did!
Literally every page of the Hoard of the Dragon Queen modules says, at the bottom, "Not for resale. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only." Wouldn't be surprised if Version 0.2 of the Basic Rules had that at the bottom as well.
AlHazred wrote: