d20 translations?

[Infernal Teddy]

What's been wondering me is this question:

Does the OGL allow me to translate Open Content to a different language, if I stick to the rules in the Licence? Can I translate an open Feat to, say, german, and use that translated feat in something I write, as long as I otherwise comply?

Thanx.

 

[Ranger REG]

See My Disclaimer Below

What's been wondering me is this question:

Does the OGL allow me to translate Open Content to a different language, if I stick to the rules in the Licence? Can I translate an open Feat to, say, german, and use that translated feat in something I write, as long as I otherwise comply?

Yes, you can translate OGC into any language, according to the OGL's definition of "Use" or "Using" [Section 1(g)].

If you want, you may also include a translation of the OGL, but you must still attached the original English text of the OGL, as that is the only legal document recognized by the author (WotC).

 

[yennico]

I do not know if a translation of the D20 modern into German already exists but
the PHB, DMG and MM of D&D exist in German, so the OGC is already translated into German.
The translation work is intellectual property and so it is copyright protected.
I do not own these books in German, so I can not say if the German publisher make their translation as OGL. I doubt it.
If you translate the Open Content into German and use the same words for the same feats as the German publisher you will be in copyright trouble.
You can translate the feats, etc. with your own words, other words than the published German but to which purpose. German players already know the names of the feats from the published translation.
I´m not a lawyer, but perhaps the best way to handle this is: Write your adventure in English
I do not know if it is correct to use only the names of the feats and the neccessary game mechanics in your adventure and write in the adventure: To play this adventure you need the PHB, DMG & MM from the German publisher.

Perhaps you ask the German chapter of the RPGA how they write their adventures.

 

[Ranger REG]

I do not know if a translation of the D20 modern into German already exists but
the PHB, DMG and MM of D&D exist in German, so the OGC is already translated into German.
The translation work is intellectual property and so it is copyright protected.
I do not own these books in German, so I can not say if the German publisher make their translation as OGL. I doubt it.
If you translate the Open Content into German and use the same words for the same feats as the German publisher you will be in copyright trouble.

Then I suggest you DO NOT use or even peek into the german translated D&D rulebooks. Just take the english text of the SRD and make your own language translation. That is the same advice I give any aspiring d20 game designers, use only the System Reference Documents, not the D&D Core Rulebooks.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Isn't that a bit agianst the purpose of the OGL???

 

[Selganor]

Welcome to the German Copyright laws.

It's not as if laws (especially if laws of different countries are involved) always have to make sense

 

[Ranger REG]

Isn't that a bit agianst the purpose of the OGL???

What is against the purpose of the OGL?

German translated D&D rulebooks would only be a violation if WotC did not give said company the limited right to distribute German version. IOW, said company and WotC entered into a different agreement, probably an agreement that would require royalty payment for the use (or the translation) of Dungeons & Dragons and other trademarks and copyrighted content that are not included in the System Reference Documents (for example, named spells).

What company is distributing German D&D books?

 

[Selganor]

Formerly it was Amigo, now it's Feder&Schwert (the same company that also translates White Wolf's World of Darkness and Green Ronin's Warhammer)

Yes, they are busy... apparently too busy to get the "problem" with the possibility of a German SRD cleared

Any guesses why the d20 community in Germany is almost nonexistent (or rather ONLY using english d20 products)?

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Formerly it was Amigo, now it's Feder&Schwert (the same company that also translates White Wolf's World of Darkness and Green Ronin's Warhammer)

Yes, they are busy... apparently too busy to get the "problem" with the possibility of a German SRD cleared

Any guesses why the d20 community in Germany is almost nonexistent (or rather ONLY using english d20 products)?

That last was irony, right?

F&S will NOT comment on third party useres using the german translations of the SRD-Material, so I guess anyone here in the good ol' BRD will have to use the english SRD. Which in a way defeats the purpose of doing GERMAN material in the first place. But then, F&S always were slightly arrogant.

 

[Selganor]

Apparently cou can contact them on info about the translations of terms for translated d20 product (as there were a few books translated for d20 when D&D3(.0) was released) but without any action from the the owner of the rights to the "official" translations of the terms (i.e. F&S now) you can't even translate other d20 stuff (and you may guess that this stuff does not rank very high on their priorities list, as it only is work but without any reward for them)
And thinking about PUBLISHING own d20 stuff with the German terms is currently AFAIK only possible if they do it themselves (or you get a (probably NOT free) license from them), so in other words...

NO GERMAN D20 PRODUCTS BESIDES THE "OFFICIAL" TRANSLATIONS.

Unfortunately not even lists which pair the English terms with the German translations (like the french translator/licensee got on his website) are allowed and even if someone thinks to do something like that (even in a posting on a board), F&S (or people working for/with them) INSIST that these terms be taken offline (even if it's just one feat name or the like)