Open Content: Clarification

[dreamthief]

Just to clarify regarding permissions and so on... If I have a product that makes use of certain classes or items in a d20 product (eg: A magic item or the Alternate Sorcerer from Book of Eldritch Might 2, or a class in the Netbook of PCs) but don't include the stats and just add a footnote to where the item/class is from, do I still need to notify the author?

Thanks for any help.

DT

 

[MEG Hal]

If it is open content you do not need to notify anyone, you of course can and you need to clarify in section 15 where it came from. Which class are you using from teh NB of Classes? Just curious, a bunch of my team worked on the Netbook of Classes.

 

[Ranger REG]

Just to clarify regarding permissions and so on... If I have a product that makes use of certain classes or items in a d20 product (eg: A magic item or the Alternate Sorcerer from Book of Eldritch Might 2, or a class in the Netbook of PCs) but don't include the stats and just add a footnote to where the item/class is from, do I still need to notify the author?

Thanks for any help.

DT

If the item in question is already Open Content, you can reprint it in your product, as long you cite your source in Section 15 (Copyright Notice) of your copy of the OGL.

(This is helpful to consumer who does not feel that he must also purchase said source product.)

But outside of the OGL's Copyright Notice, you'll have to ask permission from the author to use the title of his work as reference, especially if the title contains a trademark.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Re: Re: Open Content: Clarification

But outside of the OGL's Copyright Notice, you'll have to ask permission from the author to use the title of his work as reference, especially if the title contains a trademark.

Titles are generally PI anyway. In any case, though, I strongly recommend contacting the publisher - they're often willing to give permission to PI/closed content, if you have a legit use for it.

 

[dreamthief]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the help! If I wasn't very clear, I just want to make a reference to the information, not to replicate it in our product.

Eg: Pyrus, Sorc 5/Blackmage(*) 3

In Footnote:
(*) - From The Book of Fiery Might (Gonzo Press), Pg 34

THG Hal>
Right now just the Caverner Prestige Class. It's for a book of non-Uber NPCs.

Thanks again.
Regards,
DT

 

[Lizard]

Re: Thanks!

Thanks for all the help! If I wasn't very clear, I just want to make a reference to the information, not to replicate it in our product.

Eg: Pyrus, Sorc 5/Blackmage(*) 3

In Footnote:
(*) - From The Book of Fiery Might (Gonzo Press), Pg 34

Not without permission from the trademark holder.

 

[enrious]

Re: Re: Thanks!

Not without permission from the trademark holder.

Right, because the title of the product is PI.

However, I can't imagine the holder not giving you permission if you ask, unless it has a focus that the PI holder finds objectionable (such as a glorification of rape).

 

[dreamthief]

Re: Re: Re: Thanks!

Right, because the title of the product is PI.

However, I can't imagine the holder not giving you permission if you ask, unless it has a focus that the PI holder finds objectionable (such as a glorification of rape).

Ok. It does make me think twice about using too much OGL material. Thanks anyway.

DT

 

[NemesisPress]

Re: Re: Open Content: Clarification

outside of the OGL's Copyright Notice, you'll have to ask permission from the author to use the title of his work as reference, especially if the title contains a trademark.

This is an important topic that needs to be clarified. It all sounds very simple, but it rests on an extraordinarily broad interpretation of the OGL license when there is also the principle of fair use to be considered.

 

[Ranger REG]

Fair Use will not allow distributing someone else's copyright material for entertainment purpose. RPG is entertainment.

In any case, the license is to govern what is OGC (which you can re-use, reprint, or modified) what is PI (which you cannot). It is the publisher's responsibility to clearly designate what is OGC in their product, which make anything else PI.