Posting a Homebrew SRD to a personal website

[evilmog6]

I am working on a homebrew system based on Pathfinder with changes of my own and influence from Trailblazer, FATE, and others. I am not finished yet, but when I do finish I would like to put it up on the web somewhere. I don't intend to (or even consider it a possibility, I am not delusional) monetize it in any way. I am just a web developer, and in addition to it being a fun side project, it would be easy reference for my players.

My question is, is it legal to repost stuff from these systems into my own SRD online? I know that 3.5/Pathfinder/Trailblazer cite the OGL, not sure about FATE. I know I'm probably being way too paranoid even asking this question an no one is going to even know about, let alone care about, my homebrew. Still, before I post it online I would like to know how safe that is. I know not to include any setting, unique copyrighted characters, or plot stuff, and that is not included in what I am doing.

Does anyone know if it is safe enough to reproduce large segments of previous editions in my own and post it?

 

[Morrus]

You can safely reproduce anything declared as OGC (you'll have to look at the individual books, which should tell you what's OGC and what isn't). For example, you can take the whole Pathfinder SRD and publish it yourself. For non-OGC stuff, you're looking at standard trademark and copyright laws in the absence of any specific license.

 

[evilmog6]

Thank you for that. It sounds like its pretty safe with what you said that you can reproduce the entire Pathfinder SRD without worry. Trailblazer does cite that it is under the OGL too. If it is just for personal use, do I still have to publish a copy of the OGL into my site?

Also, for FATE, I really am not planning on reproducing any of that system's language. Essentially, all I want to do is take the very basic premise of "zones" and make written rules for running D20 with a similar concept. I assume there should be no concern with that.

 

[Morrus]

Yeah, you still need to put the OGL there - the license doesn't distinguish between types of distribution (sale, free, whatever).

Re. FATE - rules themselves aren't copyrightable, but the language used to express them is. Be sure to rewrite it all in your own words.

Also, you can't use the words Pathfinder, FATE, Trailblazer etc. without permission. (Though Pathfinder has a free license you can use to refer to it by name; don't know about the others).

 

[Cadence]

The Paizo Community Use Policy ( http://paizo.com/paizo/about/communityuse ) is pretty straight forward, and even lets you use some of their artwork.

 

[evilmog6]

Thank you both! This is perfect.