Commercial D&D utility - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Commercial D&D utility

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
soborn_dup
Apr 21, 2009 10:14:04 Hi all,

I'm thinking about creating a utility for use with D&D 4th edition (and probably nothing else - it's that specific) and then making some money off it by selling it. I thought I'd be honest up front.

My questions are:

(note: I've read some of this thread http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1169106 but it doesn't answer my questions 100%)

- Is this in breach of any of WotC's licenses or IP boundaries? (I was thinking of using some specific D&D terms like 'hit-points' and 'initiative' etc.)
- Do I need to get in touch with WotC if I do plan to go ahead with this?
- I'm probably not going to be able to use any of the information from the books with regards to class details, monster details, etc, am I? (mostly rethoric, I know, but just in case...)

Oh, and I'm also not in the US but in the UK if that makes any difference.

At first glance I think I should be OK as long as I don't use any stats and stuff from the D&D books. Making a program that uses the rules as such would be no problem. But as you might have guessed I'm not 100% sure so hence the post.

Thanks for any advice.
#2
Loki5654
Apr 21, 2009 15:56:58 I suggest contacting a lawyer (or would it be a solicitor in your case?) as any advice or answers you get on these boards will most likely be just an opinion*.

*a potentially well educated and thoroughly researched opinion, but an opinion nonetheless.
#3
bone_naga
Apr 21, 2009 17:47:10 My guess would be that you should be ok if you don't use any published material (meaning you cannot have a list of powers and their effects, or stats for monsters, etc). However, generic terms like hit points, ability scores, and initiative are not specific to WotC and can be used freely. You might be able to get some clarification if you contact WotC, but I'm not so sure that they'd support anything that might compete with DDI.

That said, I am not a lawyer. My wife is a paralegal, and she agrees with what I've outlined above, but admittedly IP law is not her area of expertise. When in doubt, consult an IP lawyer, especially if you're wanting to market this.
#4
celloshane
Apr 21, 2009 18:26:22 IANAL, but you seem to be asking for broad speculation. IMO, if your concept is specific enough that it would only be applicable to D&D 4e, then it's pretty likely that you'd be infringing Wotc's IP if you chose to publish it. However, since you continue on to state that you won't be using any published material beyond generic terms, I fail to see why your utility would be specific to 4e. With the details you've provided it's difficult to give you an answer, I would seek private opinions of proffesionals in the field (including lawyers).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 soborn_dup Apr 21, 2009 10:14:04	Hi all, I'm thinking about creating a utility for use with D&D 4th edition (and probably nothing else - it's that specific) and then making some money off it by selling it. I thought I'd be honest up front. My questions are: (note: I've read some of this thread http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1169106 but it doesn't answer my questions 100%) - Is this in breach of any of WotC's licenses or IP boundaries? (I was thinking of using some specific D&D terms like 'hit-points' and 'initiative' etc.) - Do I need to get in touch with WotC if I do plan to go ahead with this? - I'm probably not going to be able to use any of the information from the books with regards to class details, monster details, etc, am I? (mostly rethoric, I know, but just in case...) Oh, and I'm also not in the US but in the UK if that makes any difference. At first glance I think I should be OK as long as I don't use any stats and stuff from the D&D books. Making a program that uses the rules as such would be no problem. But as you might have guessed I'm not 100% sure so hence the post. Thanks for any advice.
#2 Loki5654 Apr 21, 2009 15:56:58	I suggest contacting a lawyer (or would it be a solicitor in your case?) as any advice or answers you get on these boards will most likely be just an opinion. a potentially well educated and thoroughly researched opinion, but an opinion nonetheless.
#3 bone_naga Apr 21, 2009 17:47:10	My guess would be that you should be ok if you don't use any published material (meaning you cannot have a list of powers and their effects, or stats for monsters, etc). However, generic terms like hit points, ability scores, and initiative are not specific to WotC and can be used freely. You might be able to get some clarification if you contact WotC, but I'm not so sure that they'd support anything that might compete with DDI. That said, I am not a lawyer. My wife is a paralegal, and she agrees with what I've outlined above, but admittedly IP law is not her area of expertise. When in doubt, consult an IP lawyer, especially if you're wanting to market this.
#4 celloshane Apr 21, 2009 18:26:22	IANAL, but you seem to be asking for broad speculation. IMO, if your concept is specific enough that it would only be applicable to D&D 4e, then it's pretty likely that you'd be infringing Wotc's IP if you chose to publish it. However, since you continue on to state that you won't be using any published material beyond generic terms, I fail to see why your utility would be specific to 4e. With the details you've provided it's difficult to give you an answer, I would seek private opinions of proffesionals in the field (including lawyers).