New Harry Potter d20 Website

[The Kender]

Before I go any further, I'd like to apologize if posting a URL is against the EN World rules.

I wrote up a few rules and made a message board for a Harry Potter game using the d20 system rules. I modifed a few things a bit. I would prefer if you guys could skip the "I hate Harry Potter" stuff though. Suggestions, Questions, Complaints are all welcome.

http://hpd20.netfirms.com

It's more of a group project, so your suggestions make the site.

 

[Horacio]

Beware of nasty copyright problems...

The site looks good, and the magic system is very interesting. A bit overpowered for D&D, but it isn't D&D , so no problem

 

[The Kender]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking about the magic system. This is supposed to over right the stuff in D&D. I really don't see how there could be any copyright problems. I am not making any money at all. I just noticed something. I forgot to add the copyright stuff that I wrote up.

 

[Horacio]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking about the magic system. This is supposed to over right the stuff in D&D. I really don't see how there could be any copyright problems. I am not making any money at all. I just noticed something. I forgot to add the copyright stuff that I wrote up.

That was what I meant... The copyright stuff is fairly compulsory...

 

[Desdichado]

I've been told by fairly reliable sources that having that standard "Internet copyright disclaimer" actually doesn't do anything for you legally. It makes you feel better, though, just in case some corporate lawyer happens to surf into your site...

 

[Bull]

Yup. It's likely WotC won't do anything (They're much more relaxed than TSR was back in the day regarding fansites), but the Harry Potter people might...

It's likely not going to be a problem unless you start "Publicizing" heavily and/or get popular, which may attract their attention, or you get very unlucky. Rowlings and the Harry Potter club seem to be fairly strict on their copyright protection, and using the names and copyrights in ANY way, even witha disclaimer, is still technically copyright infringement.

Internet Copyright Disclaimers do help in some cases, as companies are willing to allow fan sites and the like as long as you give them credit and linkage, since that helps their sales. But some companies have strict policies against 'em. Paramount cracked down on Star Trek sites a few years back, as did TSR with D&D sites.

Bull

 

[Tar Markvar]

Be very, very careful

From what I understand of the Harry Potter people, you will want to cover your tracks big time. Not only are you facing the Rowling camp and her lawyers and opinions, but you're also facing Warner Bros., who own the movie rights to the franchise.

I have heard Rowling quoted as saying she won't allow an RPG made of Potter because she doesn't want anyone putting words into her characters' mouths. All franchise rights aside, as long as you're not pretending to be Harry or any of the other characters in the books, you should be fine, unless the author's lawyers decide they don't like what you're doing.

It's sticky, because there's a lot of money to be made with Harry Potter, and if it looks like your work is a threat to the copyright, then you WILL get flack for it. Just be very, very careful.

--Tar

 

[Desdichado]

On the other hand, there hasn't been any effort to shut down online Harry Potter fanfiction, and Rowling has even read some of it.

 

[drothgery]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking about the magic system. This is supposed to over right the stuff in D&D. I really don't see how there could be any copyright problems. I am not making any money at all. I just noticed something. I forgot to add the copyright stuff that I wrote up.

I'm not a lawyer, but...

Whether or not you're making money has nothing to do with copyright issues regarding derrivative works. You're probably liable for less monetary damages if you're not making money, but that's about it.

I've produced some fan material for the d20 WoT RPG, but I'm very reluctant to let others republish it because as long as it's strictly under my control, I can take it down in a second if WotC, Robert Jordan, or Tor Books complains.

 

[The Kender]

My computer has been strange lately. It didn't show all of the replies until today. I'm not too afraid of the copyright stuff though. I'm 12 and don't know the law too well, so how can they sue me if:

1. I don't make any money off of it
2. I have the disclaimers
3. I am smart enough to not claim that any of this is mine

I forgot about the little disclaimers. Now they are on every page. I basically see this as one huge Harry Potter Fan Fiction project. If JK Rowling wants me to take it down, I will(with a little bit of dissapointement) take down the site.