It's coming...Zelda D20

[Carnifex]

OK. I'm gonna say it again(and hopefully the next guy who's gonna tell me that if we wanna make money off of this, we gotta get permission from Nintendo, will read my posts.

We're Not Gonna Sell It, It's Gonna Be Free!

That is all.

Doesn't matter, I'd really, really advise you still check with Nintendo first. It'll probably be fine, but it'll make a much better impression on them if you go and ask than if they find out about it through other channels...

 

[Alzrius]

I really don't think Nintendo will care.

I've been heading a group that's not quite an RPG (sort of quasi-status right now) that's been making a parody of Pokemon for over a year now, and not once have we received anything that even hinted at them thinking of taking action against us.

 

[jRocket]

I guess everyone kind of assumed it was supposed to be a for-profit product, as it was mentioned that the author was intenting to make a "print" version of it.

 

[blackshirt5]

Well, the "print" version, if it's done, will just be the exact same product as the regular version, but it won't use up as much ink as the regular one(i.e., no pictures). So a "printer friendly" version is more accurate.

 

[Aristotle]

Sounds cool, but...

Doesn't the OGL state that you have to have legal consent to the product identity in order to use the OGL or the D20 logo? In other words, if you publish (for free or not) a document using PI that you do not have the legal consent to use, Wizards could also send a cease and desist order.

I dunno how likely either company is to actually threaten legal action, but the idea that they would not do so because it is "free advertising" is a little naive. Sites and pruducts like this are closed down every day. The simple reason for this is that if the owner of the copyright is aware of your product, and does nothing to stop you from producing it without having licensed it, grounds could be made that the owner has allowed the copyright to fall into the public domain. Essentially, they need to take action or risk the possability that they could lose their rights to the product identity alltogether.

Of course I'm no lawyer. If you know one, I'd consult with them...

 

[Alzrius]

I don't think they'd care enough that they'd stop a not-for-profit fan project.

I mean, if that were true, the companies that own the rights to Terminator and Evil Dead would have been after Talien's blood when he made his free unofficial d20 Modern products based on those movies, but so far, the sky has not fallen.

I basically don't see why everyone is so worried here. Yes, bad things could happen, but its unlikely, and even if it is, the rest of you don't have to worry, since the worst way it could turn out is probably just an order to take it down.

I say, bring Zelda d20 on!

 

[dcas]

OK. I'm gonna say it again(and hopefully the next guy who's gonna tell me that if we wanna make money off of this, we gotta get permission from Nintendo, will read my posts.

We're Not Gonna Sell It, It's Gonna Be Free!

That is all.

Copyright law is based on distribution, not sale. And though I don't know the ins and outs of the various laws covering IP, even if Nintendo didn't have a legal case they could still make life miserable for you and your compadres.

Also, you need to be certain to identify any Nintendo trademarks in your product (such as The Legend of Zelda®). Nintendo can lose their trademarks if they don't defend them, and not identifying trademarks as such in your work could be seen as infringement.

 

[L0rd_Dark0n]

Hey Blackshirt5, how's that book coming? I can't wait to see it!