d20 translations?

[Infernal Teddy]

So WHAT IS the rest of the german D&D community doing? I didn't know there WAS one (Ich sitzte hier in KL, so ziemlich am arsch der welt, weißt du...)

 

[Ranger REG]

Good thing I don't own the german rulebooks.

I also mean the original rulebooks as well. Not that it will help you in your translation but you should focus on the text of the SRD, not on the rulebooks.

The more I think / read about this, the more I get the feeling that the only place you're able to ACTUALLY USE the OGL/SRD-complex is the US. Makes you sick.

With all due respect, just because F&S did not translate the SRD, does not mean it cannot be used in Germany. You just have to make the translation. Either that or wait until someone else do it, but someone who dedicated enough to make the translation should be given due credits (or "props") for his effort.

 

[Selganor]

You just have to make the translation. Either that or wait until someone else do it, but someone who dedicated enough to make the translation should be given due credits (or "props") for his effort.

But that's apparently the problem with the German copyright laws (as I am understanding it)

Once someone translates something (like the SRD) the TRANSLATION becomes his "intellectual property".

That's why F&S seems not to be able to provide a translated SRD... (It's not as if most of the translation hasn't already been there and you'll probably find enough fans to do all the work)

 

[Ranger REG]

Once someone translates something (like the SRD) the TRANSLATION becomes his "intellectual property".

True, but because it is translated directly from the original English text of the SRD, it becomes by OGL's definition a "Derivative Material." [Section 1(b).]

That someone either must apply the OGL making it accessible for anyone to use it, or face legal action from WotC, however far they will take it. The SRD without an OGL is merely copyrighted material. That's a common misconception, that the OGL will relinquish your copyright, but it doesn't. You only give permission through the OGL, that anyone who wants to use your contributing content must also follow the OGL's rule. But any Open Game Content, even derived from a prior OGC, must remain OGC. [Section 1(d).]

 

[yennico]

Why do you need a German SRD?
To publish German D20 adventures ? Certainly no German publisher except F&S will publish D20 adventures because of copyright.
I do not know why, but in Germany no German SRD exists.
There are two ways to change this fact.
1. Your own translation. This is a time consuming way and perhaps you will get trouble with F&S because of the copyright
2. You ask Wizards and F&S by mail why no German SRD exists. Perhaps they will make a German SRD but I doubt it.

The best way is to publish your adventure in English.
1. A SRD in English exists.
2. You can send your adventure to many publishers. If one rejects your adventure perhaps the next will publish your adventure.
3. You can use RPGnow and e-publishing
4. More customers will buy your adventure.

 

[Ranger REG]

Why do you need a German SRD?
To publish German D20 adventures ? Certainly no German publisher except F&S will publish D20 adventures because of copyright.

You mean to tell me the Open Game License is a "dead" license in Germany? I want to hear from WotC and this company, F&S, if they have objection over the use of the license outside the US.

I do not know why, but in Germany no German SRD exists.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there aren't many SRDs in other languages other than English and Spanish(?), the latter not being released by WotC.

There are two ways to change this fact.
1. Your own translation. This is a time consuming way and perhaps you will get trouble with F&S because of the copyright

You shouldn't get into trouble if you apply and attach the OGL, unless the OGL have no legal standing in Germany, or that WotC stated it can't.

Contact WotC. See if the OGL have any legal standing as a binding agreement in Germany. Or consult with a lawyer whose fields of knowledge are both licensing and German & International copyright law.

I have to ask, did F&S pursued any legal action to those using the SRD and the OGL in Germany?

 

[Selganor]

You mean to tell me the Open Game License is a "dead" license in Germany? I want to hear from WotC and this company, F&S, if they have objection over the use of the license outside the US.

d20 in German NEVER "lived"...
The only d20 products in German were translations of "Quintessential Fighter", "Q. Rogue". 3 Freeport adventures, 3 Penumbra adventures, Greenland Saga. (And ONE d20 solo adventure, the ONLY "new" product I know of that was published by a normal publisher... NO pdf-products or content on sites that I know of)
Add to this some WotC-books and S&S' Ravenloft and Kingdoms of Kalamar (all of which being D&D and not d20) and you'll se how many german products the german d20-community got.

I have to ask, did F&S pursued any legal action to those using the SRD and the OGL in Germany?

F&S (and the previous licensee Amigo) has repeatedly asked people to remove (or even removed them theirselves if they were posted at their boards) even the mention of how a single spell or feat was translated.
At the Amigo board, a posting mentioning PCGen didn't usually live more than 1-2 hours as the moderators (Amigo themselves or volunteers on orders of Amigo) removed them without even an explanation why.
If you asked them why that happened you got the answer that they were on order of WotC to remove any mentions of "illegal" things like PCGen...

Flyspeck (from "TheOtherGameCompany") even was told by the (one) person from Amigo who was then responsible for D&D that what he did with the SRD (breaking it up in nice chunks like Races, Classes, Skills, ... and putting a nice layout on it) was ILLEGAL.

So, you see how well d20 was understood in Germany (by the official licensees)?

BTW: Infernal Teddy: Do you check the mail address you registered here? You got mail!

 

[Ranger REG]

d20 in German NEVER "lived"...
The only d20 products in German were translations of "Quintessential Fighter", "Q. Rogue". 3 Freeport adventures, 3 Penumbra adventures, Greenland Saga.

And who translated those? F&S?

 

[Selganor]

These were translated by Truant (who also translated Ars Magica, the Cheapass games and Torches&Pitchforks)

I forgot that the Creature Collection and the Scarred Land Gazeteer were also out (these were translated by F&S but are, like the rest of the d20 stuff "discontinued")

 

[Ranger REG]

Do they have OGL (legal English version) attached to each product?