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New d20 Author Seeks Guidance on Do's and Don't's
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<blockquote data-quote="Crusty Older DM" data-source="post: 366738" data-attributes="member: 7168"><p>I've been sinking my teeth into the OGL, the d20 System License and the d20 System Guide, as well as various FAQs related thereto. I will, of course, have a lawyer take a look at the whole structure with anything that I am thinking of publishing, but I thought I could get some of you to give me some idea if I am totally off in my basic understanding of what WotC has set up. This is an outline of my understanding:</p><p></p><p>1. The OGL and System Rules Document provide a safe harbor for the inclusion of the system rules set forth in the SRD in non-WotC products. </p><p></p><p>2. If I want to use anything that is not in the SRD but does happen to appear in a WotC product (even if it is a "Core Book" and even if it is a rules system), I am thrown to the winds of general copyright (and possibly trademark) law.</p><p></p><p>3. WotC can still publish materials that are derivative of OGC without that new material becoming subject to the OGL. However, if I were to publish material derivative of OGC, I would effectively have to grant a license to that material to anyone who complied with the OGL, including WotC. </p><p></p><p>4. What if I publish material that is derived from content that is in the SRD but is also in the public domain? I.e., by using any OGC am I giving up my right to later claim that some of the SRD is not subject to WotC's copyrights?</p><p></p><p>4. In order to use the d20 System logo and/or trademark, I must not include my own character creation or character advancement systems, must not represent that my product is a "core book" of any kind and must not change the definitions of certain game terms enumerated in the d20 System Guide.</p><p></p><p>5. In order to use the d20 System logo and/or trademark, at least 5% of the text (presumably by word count??) must be OGC and I must include a reference to the required use of certain WotC "Core Books".</p><p></p><p>6. I am not permitted to refer to any WotC products other than the PHB, DMG, MM and Psionics Handbook.</p><p></p><p>I'm not looking for legal advice here. I'll take care of that at the appropriate time. But I would be grateful if anyone would tell me if I were totally off-base or have missed a major point.</p><p></p><p>Thank you.</p><p></p><p>Crusty Older DM</p><p>"Entertaining and terrorizing players for 26 years."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Crusty Older DM, post: 366738, member: 7168"] I've been sinking my teeth into the OGL, the d20 System License and the d20 System Guide, as well as various FAQs related thereto. I will, of course, have a lawyer take a look at the whole structure with anything that I am thinking of publishing, but I thought I could get some of you to give me some idea if I am totally off in my basic understanding of what WotC has set up. This is an outline of my understanding: 1. The OGL and System Rules Document provide a safe harbor for the inclusion of the system rules set forth in the SRD in non-WotC products. 2. If I want to use anything that is not in the SRD but does happen to appear in a WotC product (even if it is a "Core Book" and even if it is a rules system), I am thrown to the winds of general copyright (and possibly trademark) law. 3. WotC can still publish materials that are derivative of OGC without that new material becoming subject to the OGL. However, if I were to publish material derivative of OGC, I would effectively have to grant a license to that material to anyone who complied with the OGL, including WotC. 4. What if I publish material that is derived from content that is in the SRD but is also in the public domain? I.e., by using any OGC am I giving up my right to later claim that some of the SRD is not subject to WotC's copyrights? 4. In order to use the d20 System logo and/or trademark, I must not include my own character creation or character advancement systems, must not represent that my product is a "core book" of any kind and must not change the definitions of certain game terms enumerated in the d20 System Guide. 5. In order to use the d20 System logo and/or trademark, at least 5% of the text (presumably by word count??) must be OGC and I must include a reference to the required use of certain WotC "Core Books". 6. I am not permitted to refer to any WotC products other than the PHB, DMG, MM and Psionics Handbook. I'm not looking for legal advice here. I'll take care of that at the appropriate time. But I would be grateful if anyone would tell me if I were totally off-base or have missed a major point. Thank you. Crusty Older DM "Entertaining and terrorizing players for 26 years." [/QUOTE]
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