D&D 5E DMSGuild art only and cartography products licensing?

[darjr]

I know that currently WotC is working on a better license when it comes to the art in products put up for sale on the DMSGuild. Does this talk include the selling of art only products? Or cartography?

If a cartographer want's to make maps of the places, city's, countries and continents, and other things, like famous dungeons, wold WotC own that or the artist?

Same if an artist want's to sell a gallery of Faerunian portrats of both possible PC's and famous characters within the Realms.

Should they be talking about this? Anyone doing anything like this? Cartographers and artists, is this a crazy idea for a product on the DMSGuild?

 

[Staffan]

They updated the terms regarding art for the DM's Guild. From the FAQ:

What kinds of artwork and maps can I use in my DMs Guild titles?

We updated the Community Content Agreement sections 2c and 8c to clarify the use of artwork. The artwork (illustrations or maps) that you include in your title does not become part of the DMs Guild content which other DMs Guild contributors can use. Generally speaking for these types of artwork:
Art and Maps provided by Wizards of the Coast: The art you find in the Resources for DMs Guild Creators category is owned by Wizards and can be freely used in your DMs Guild titles.
Public Domain Art: Art that you are certain is in the public domain can be used.
Stock Art: Usage of stock art depends on the license associated with that stock art. Most of the stock art sold under the Publisher Resources category on DriveThruRPG includes a license that would allow it to be used in your DMs Guild titles.
Commissioned Art: Usage of art that you commission from an artist depends upon your terms with the artist. You must have the rights or license to use the art in your title. The artwork does not become owned by OneBookShelf or Wizards; you simply must have rights to use it in your commercial work.
Creative Commons: This depends on the type of creative commons license. Some allow commerical use, others do not.

So feel free to use stock art and maps from outside the Guild, as long as your license to the stock art allows it.

I'm somewhat more fuzzy about making art based on FR or other D&D IP - I think you would have the right to e.g. release a portrait of Elminster, or a map of Shadowdale, via the DM's Guild and retain the full rights to that picture (with the caveat that it's a derivative work so you might not be able to use it elsewhere without Wizards' permission). But you should probably check that with Wizards and/or a lawyer.

 

[Yazman]

Can we use pre-existing Wizards-owned art from their books in DM's Guild content we make? For example, can I use a map of the realms owned by Wizards?

 

[dave2008]

Can we use pre-existing Wizards-owned art from their books in DM's Guild content we make? For example, can I use a map of the realms owned by Wizards?

If it is note in "Resources for DMs Guild Creators" then I don't think you can use it.