Using non-OGL material from publishers...

[Cergorach]

After reading through BOEMII (Book of Elderitch Might II for the uninitiated) i came to the following conclusion:
1.) Darned cool book ;-)
2.) Some things in D20 products are marked as OGL material, but other things that are very cool/interesting/useful are not.
3.) There's more and more D20 material out there that does the same but through different rules sets. This becomes confusing for the consumer.

What i as wondering is, how do the different game companies react when someone asks to use their copyrighted/IP materials for a D20 product. Has this actually happened? And if so, what kind of agreements where made?

If i think of people using someone else's copyrights/IPs, i always think of very high monetary figures. But unless using something very high profile (such as the D&D brand name) i don't see this as viable, it's very easy to come up with your own variant feat/spell name/monster, thus paying to use someone else's IP isn't often very economic. I can see so many advantages in publishers working together and sharing IPs (with limited liscences of course). People seeing a reference to a monster/item from product x and thinkng "That product might be cool as well, let's take a look."

What do publishers think of this?
What do consumers think of this?

 

[Monte At Home]

Copyright material

Well, first off, I made a lot more of this book open than the first one, in response to customer feedback. The new bard and new sorcerer, for example, are all open.

Second, I am very willing to work with someone on a fair deal to use any material that appears in one of my products. It has happened to me many times, but usually it's for a free download that someone is doing or a (free) website. These almost always get my blessing with a caveat here or there. Contact me if you have a specific request.

So that's one publisher's opinion.

 

[Orcus]

Steve Wieck and I have been quick to give permission to use PI stuff from CC1, CC2 and R&R (though you still have to ask). We are glad to have people reuse the stuff. I wrote the limited license in R&R for use of the PI in spell names and put it in the book so people dont even have to ask to use that stuff (consult the book for more details).

Clark

 

[Suzerain]

***

 

[Ranger REG]

While you reserve the right to grant permission for others to use your trademark, copyright, and Product Identity, would you set certain terms or condition for the use of your properties, to retain certain quality control? After all, one can simply get a "yes" from you and turn it around and make it an inappropriate product full of mature contents (albeit legal with disclaimer and a censored rating label).

 

[DungeonKeeperUK]

While you reserve the right to grant permission for others to use your trademark, copyright, and Product Identity, would you set certain terms or condition for the use of your properties, to retain certain quality control? After all, one can simply get a "yes" from you and turn it around and make it an inappropriate product full of mature contents (albeit legal with disclaimer and a censored rating label).

I think this may be one of teh reasons many publishers retain certain materials as PI etc. to ensure quality control. If they have published a setting with certain elements within, to have all and sundry producing material would only lead to confuse the buying public, and possibly put them off the product in teh future....