Dynamic (for Laptop Users) Character Sheet ?

[dvvega]

Actually according to copyright laws throughout the world, they uphold the copyright of other nations and enforce their own additions.

On a side note regarding the hosting of the material, it is being done for profit. Granted it is an indirect profit (you need to purchase his sheet to gain access to the downloads) but it is a semantical way of hiding the fact that a profit is being made from the distribution of copyrighted material.

 

[RiTz21]

For personal use, yes, you are correct. However, distributing IP without permission from the IP owner is not allowed. Anything produced under the OGL has that permission. If its closed content (like most of WotC's books), then you need their permission to distribute their IP.

The Sheet uses only what is in the SRD - nothing else.
It is VERY customizable: Because of that, people started creating and sharing classes, monsters and races. They created Excel Forumlas to make those. I'm no lawyer, but it would appear to me that these would actually belong to the people who created it... (Those formulas are invented, and original!! One amazing guy made, from a single Race, all the Dragons fromt the SRD, all selectable by Age category and color !!)

I cannot prevent people from creating files with their own Formulas. If, by some weird law, this would not be legal, then I would take action to ask the people to "share" their work somewhere else... And if the past is any indication, there would be sites that would sprung up from these users, and they would create/share their creations.

Would the court declare those downloads game rules or copyrightable material? Nobody really knows that since it hasn't gone to court yet. The OGL was created as a safe harbor to avoid those issues. Telling someone they can't go outside the OGL isn't correct. You can certainly go outside the OGL, to what degree though nobody really knows.

Well said.

RiTz21

 

[dvvega]

PREAMBLE:
Personally I love your spreadsheet and when I replicate things I don't post them anywhere. They are for my campaign only. And before it is asked, my players don't even have a copy of the stuff I replicate. Because if I gave it to them I would be distributing copyrighted material.

This isn't an attack on you as a producer of a great piece of work. It isn't even meant to be an attack. More a clarification of what a lot of posters are trying to explain.


Unfortunately you cannot hide behind the "I am not doing it - the users are doing it". You host the information after it is created, thus you are helping them pass around copyrighted material.

You are 100% correct that the formulas are owned by the people who create the data. However that does not instantly make the whole equal to the sum of the parts. Why? Because those formulae are replicating information from someone's copyrighted material. The forumlae may not be infringement but the data that they generate is.

Of course if it is all from the SRD or new inventions from those users then there is no problem, but if it is not then there is a problem.

Now the question would be: would Wizard's really care? Probably not. However as a software developer that has had revenue stolen because of the whole pirating attitude, I do understand the plight of developers and producers of "stuff" and how copyright infringement affects them.

For example: would you, Ritz21, be happy for someone to take your spreadsheet, and replicate it 100% then start handing it out for free. I would hazard that you wouldn't.

However that is exactly what is being done to Wizard's (and whoever elses') work. Your users are replicating Wizards data and then giving it away for free. For example if I didn't want to buy Races of Stone I could download the races and classes for your spreadsheet and I would have most of the cruch without the fluff.

The argument that if you stop them they will go do it themselves (regarding posting of material) is also not a valid one since right now you condone the distribution. If you said "no more" and they went and set up a website themselves then it is they who are solely responsibly.

-- Obviously in a ranting mood today

 

[RiTz21]

What exactly IS the copyrighted material?
The names of Classes?
The names of Races?
The names of Special Abilities?

You could create a class entirely based on a "Copyrighted" class, but change the name of everything and it will have the same functionality... (i.e. instead of 'Lay on Hands', call it 'Healing Index') and absolutly nothing that would be copyrighted. That is one solution to all this brou-haha (French expression, which would mean something like "a storm in a glass of water" - not very translatable, sorry - which is what I consider all this talk about copyrights to be)

The Sheet is not meant to 'replace' the source material: On the contrary, references (i.e. Page Numbers) to source material is often added by those who design classes so the user can check how to use his features and abilities correctly. Descriptions are short, and usable as a reminder, to someone who has read the complete ruling... Check the SpellLists and you'll see the many spells that refer to the Player's Handbook... But the Sheet IS meant to significantly reduce the time needed to create and maintain a character. But as I said, it won't tell you all the details you need to know to effectively PLAY that character in a game session.

Furthermore, The Sheet is a Tool which will HELP people manage the complex rules of the game, and will help prevent them from getting discouraged by them (Version 8, which will implement the stacking rules, will certainly be even more helpful along those lines) - For example, I received a comment from someone to that exact effect - She said "I honestly believe if I hadn't had this sheet I wouldn't be playing any more". (As experienced players/GMs, we tend to forget how complex the rules really are - and that is even more apparent in older folks that are just starting on the game... or even worse if you have a player with no RPG experience and add him/her in a group of people who have been playing 20+ years !)

So it is my [firm] belief that the Sheet is actually PROMOTING the game of D&D3.5 to the community. AND that translates directly into more business for Wizards of the Coast. Perhaps this explains why they do not have a problem with all of this? In anycase, they know I exist since we have exchanged emails on Business talks. I dream of the Day the EYE of WotC is on me!! (I'll make sure to wear the ring )

Peace !

RiTz21

 

[kingpaul]

What exactly IS the copyrighted material?
The names of Classes?
The names of Races?
The names of Special Abilities?

The entirety of the product is copyrighted.

 

[RiTz21]

The entirety of the product is copyrighted.

That is like saying all the words they used, are copyrighted... We would'nt have many words left to use HERE in this discussion then

RiTz21