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Dumb Question About OGL Monsters
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<blockquote data-quote="Jraynack" data-source="post: 4417114" data-attributes="member: 13894"><p>What I am saying is that you can use it as open game content except for the the parts that they say are Product Identity. You can't use Product Identity as open game content.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think it is a bit asinine as well, but if you want to play, you've got to play by the rules.</p><p></p><p>The open game content is the statistics of the creature, except where they claim it is PI. Names and rules do not go hand in hand. </p><p></p><p>The reason companies do this is simple - in your case, for example, you decide to write your monster as it is in the monsternomican. A customer purchasing it might associate it with a Privateer Press Iron Kingdoms product because you use their PI (although their logo is not on the product, a customer might think you have an exclusive license). If he tells his friends to buy your product because he assumes it is official (it has to be since you used PP Product Identity) or if you put out another adventure and the customer assumes this new adventure is another Iron kingdoms product, you are now making money off of their brand and infringing on their PI.</p><p></p><p>I know it sounds silly and a bit extreme, but if a company does not actively protect its PI, then it can be contested and put into the Public Domain.</p><p></p><p>Star Wars is another great example - you make an adventure with minions called "stormtroopers" - nothing wrong with that since it is in the Public Domain (Hitler and such). But you sell your adventure as a sci-fi adventure, your stormtroopers have similar white, armored uniforms and carry what you call blaster rifles - then you are treading on PI.</p><p></p><p>I am just offering some simple advice - you can do what I and others suggested before about changing a few names or write Privateer Press an e-mail. However, it does seem you are intent on doing what you want to do and are using this forum to get some support, but I don't think you will find it (except for the suggestions a few of us already mentioned).</p><p></p><p>I can't argue the point more clearly then that (there is a reason you can't use the Beholder monster name in a OGL/GSL book - because it is PI and they are keeping it that way - can you make a monster shaped like an orb that floats and has multiple eye stalks - yes. Can you call it a beholder? No. Can you have the eye stalks do exactly the same thing a WotC Beholder does? No. Can I make up my own game system where I don't have to follow the OGL/GSL and have a monster called a Beholder? No.) That is just the way it is.</p><p></p><p>Your adventure's greatness should not be bogged down because you have to change a few things - if the creature does in the game what the statistics allow, what does it matter if it is called X over Y. So change the name - it is as simple as that - but if you are insistant to use their PI, then it seems to me that you are trying to intentionally write an Iron Kingdoms adventure and to make money off their branding.</p><p></p><p>Or, write the adventure as an Iron Kingdoms adventure and post it for free at a fansite or in the Privateer Press forums. I am sure they and the fans will enjoy it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jraynack, post: 4417114, member: 13894"] What I am saying is that you can use it as open game content except for the the parts that they say are Product Identity. You can't use Product Identity as open game content. I think it is a bit asinine as well, but if you want to play, you've got to play by the rules. The open game content is the statistics of the creature, except where they claim it is PI. Names and rules do not go hand in hand. The reason companies do this is simple - in your case, for example, you decide to write your monster as it is in the monsternomican. A customer purchasing it might associate it with a Privateer Press Iron Kingdoms product because you use their PI (although their logo is not on the product, a customer might think you have an exclusive license). If he tells his friends to buy your product because he assumes it is official (it has to be since you used PP Product Identity) or if you put out another adventure and the customer assumes this new adventure is another Iron kingdoms product, you are now making money off of their brand and infringing on their PI. I know it sounds silly and a bit extreme, but if a company does not actively protect its PI, then it can be contested and put into the Public Domain. Star Wars is another great example - you make an adventure with minions called "stormtroopers" - nothing wrong with that since it is in the Public Domain (Hitler and such). But you sell your adventure as a sci-fi adventure, your stormtroopers have similar white, armored uniforms and carry what you call blaster rifles - then you are treading on PI. I am just offering some simple advice - you can do what I and others suggested before about changing a few names or write Privateer Press an e-mail. However, it does seem you are intent on doing what you want to do and are using this forum to get some support, but I don't think you will find it (except for the suggestions a few of us already mentioned). I can't argue the point more clearly then that (there is a reason you can't use the Beholder monster name in a OGL/GSL book - because it is PI and they are keeping it that way - can you make a monster shaped like an orb that floats and has multiple eye stalks - yes. Can you call it a beholder? No. Can you have the eye stalks do exactly the same thing a WotC Beholder does? No. Can I make up my own game system where I don't have to follow the OGL/GSL and have a monster called a Beholder? No.) That is just the way it is. Your adventure's greatness should not be bogged down because you have to change a few things - if the creature does in the game what the statistics allow, what does it matter if it is called X over Y. So change the name - it is as simple as that - but if you are insistant to use their PI, then it seems to me that you are trying to intentionally write an Iron Kingdoms adventure and to make money off their branding. Or, write the adventure as an Iron Kingdoms adventure and post it for free at a fansite or in the Privateer Press forums. I am sure they and the fans will enjoy it. [/QUOTE]
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