Question on Creature Catalog and OGL

[Rappy]

My apologies if this is a stupid question or has been answered before, but I didn't manage to spot it in the archives.

Is the only Open Game Content of the Creature Catalog the creatures that made it into the Tome of Horrors? If not, is there any particular protocol for citing them in Open Game Content akin to how the Tome of Horrors forces cites of specific monsters when you utilize them?

 

[Cleon]

My apologies if this is a stupid question or has been answered before, but I didn't manage to spot it in the archives.

Is the only Open Game Content of the Creature Catalog the creatures that made it into the Tome of Horrors? If not, is there any particular protocol for citing them in Open Game Content akin to how the Tome of Horrors forces cites of specific monsters when you utilize them?

It's a good question, but unfortunately one I don't know the answer for.

From what I recall Scott Green made an agreement with WotC to publish the creatures in the Tome of Horrors, which is why they're listed in the copyright information of the CC website's OGL license.

I'm not sure about the status of the other monster conversions - I don't know who, if anyone, would have a claim to copyright over them, since they're a collaborative work that many people have contributed to, and I believe the intent was to make them OGC.

We'd need to find someone more knowledgeable about the issue to find out for sure.

Maybe ask Echohawk or Boz?

 

[freyar]

Well, I think the answer is a bit complicated. The stuff that made it into the ToH are definitely OGC. I think (hope?!) that the rest is actually also covered by the separate agreement Scott Greene made for the CC (my understanding is that the CC and ToH were covered by separate but similar/identical agreements). In that case it would be OGC as well, though the CC hasn't updated its OGL in ages and ages. But I've never been able to get a copy of the agreement from Scott or really start a conversation with him about it. It's possible BOZ would know, though he started working on conversions here a bit after the ToH stuff as well, and I don't recall that he knew much last time I asked him about it. Worth trying, though. [MENTION=1241]BOZ[/MENTION], you have any ideas?

 

[Cleon]

Well, I think the answer is a bit complicated. The stuff that made it into the ToH are definitely OGC. I think (hope?!) that the rest is actually also covered by the separate agreement Scott Greene made for the CC (my understanding is that the CC and ToH were covered by separate but similar/identical agreements). In that case it would be OGC as well, though the CC hasn't updated its OGL in ages and ages. But I've never been able to get a copy of the agreement from Scott or really start a conversation with him about it. It's possible BOZ would know, though he started working on conversions here a bit after the ToH stuff as well, and I don't recall that he knew much last time I asked him about it. Worth trying, though. @BOZ , you have any ideas?

Yes, it's before my time too, so we're better off asking Boz for the dark of it.

 

[BOZ]

Hey, sorry for the slow response! I can't get on ENWorld at work, and often forget when I'm at home. I have a pretty limited understanding compared to Scott Greene, but I don't believe the licensing of the actual CC site has much to do with the licensing on the Tome of Horrors - pretty sure those were separate deals. As for what on the CC is OGL, I have to confess ignorance - possibly none of it is, but you would have to double check with Scott (who goes by Graz'zt on ENWorld).

 

[Cleon]

Hey, sorry for the slow response! I can't get on ENWorld at work, and often forget when I'm at home. I have a pretty limited understanding compared to Scott Greene, but I don't believe the licensing of the actual CC site has much to do with the licensing on the Tome of Horrors - pretty sure those were separate deals. As for what on the CC is OGL, I have to confess ignorance - possibly none of it is, but you would have to double check with Scott (who goes by Graz'zt on ENWorld).

Ta BOZ, I guess Rappy is best off PMing Scott/Graz'zt to find out then.

 

[Grazzt]

Hey, sorry for the slow response! I can't get on ENWorld at work, and often forget when I'm at home. I have a pretty limited understanding compared to Scott Greene, but I don't believe the licensing of the actual CC site has much to do with the licensing on the Tome of Horrors - pretty sure those were separate deals. As for what on the CC is OGL, I have to confess ignorance - possibly none of it is, but you would have to double check with Scott (who goes by Graz'zt on ENWorld).

Thread necro...

Yep. Agreements were completely separate. The stuff in Tome is 100% OGC and can be freely used so long as the section 15 format is followed that Clark did (examples are in the appendices of all the Tome books I believe).

The stuff on the CC website isn't OGC. It was basically an agreement with WotC to post the monsters (including fluff text as-is from the original source)...more or less. Stuff on CC is not OGC however. Key part is on the OGL page for the CC: "Material names added here at the request of Wizards of the Coast for reference purposes. Their presence here in now way indicates they are Open Game sources."

 

[Cleon]

Thanks for the reply Graz'zt.

It's good that we've got a clear statement that none of the CC monsters are OGC. I'm sure we'll be getting more people asking about their status like Rappy did.

Thread necro...

Yep. Agreements were completely separate. The stuff in Tome is 100% OGC and can be freely used so long as the section 15 format is followed that Clark did (examples are in the appendices of all the Tome books I believe).

The stuff on the CC website isn't OGC. It was basically an agreement with WotC to post the monsters (including fluff text as-is from the original source)...more or less. Stuff on CC is not OGC however. Key part is on the OGL page for the CC: "Material names added here at the request of Wizards of the Coast for reference purposes. Their presence here in now way indicates they are Open Game sources."

 

[BOZ]

If it means anything, I am thinking about doing more freelancing work for 5th edition (if/when such a thing becomes available), and if I do that my work would be just as inspired by the CC as it was for my 3.5 published freelance work.

 

[freyar]

Thread necro...

Yep. Agreements were completely separate. The stuff in Tome is 100% OGC and can be freely used so long as the section 15 format is followed that Clark did (examples are in the appendices of all the Tome books I believe).

The stuff on the CC website isn't OGC. It was basically an agreement with WotC to post the monsters (including fluff text as-is from the original source)...more or less. Stuff on CC is not OGC however. Key part is on the OGL page for the CC: "Material names added here at the request of Wizards of the Coast for reference purposes. Their presence here in now way indicates they are Open Game sources."

Thanks from me also. Is there any chance you have a copy of the CC agreement still (particularly anything that would indicate it's still in force now, so many years later)?