WotC - Couple Questions

[DragonLancer]

I hope this is the right forum, if not can a mod please shift it. Thanx.

I got a couple questions and I hope someone can give me an answer to them.

I am vice-head DM for an online persistant 3.5 D&D chat game (see my sig below). We make no money from this, doing it simply for the love of the game.

We would like to use the new Frostburn book from WotC since the setting is based in an Ice Age, and after reading it the book is perfect for us.

So question 1:
I have e-mailed WotC with regards to seeing if we can use the book for our chat game since its up 24/7. I mailed to the customer service e-mail on their website because I couldn't one more appropriate. Was this correct, or can someone give me the address for a specific person to ask? Thanx.
I haven't had a reply from them so far, but I do understand they are busy.

Question 2: (And I hope this doesn't affect WotC's desicision with regards this).
I'm not an expert on the OGL and I don't understand most of it. So basically I'm looking to clarify my understanding a little bit.
As I read the OGL, its in reference to publishing not use. Since IceHaven (the chat game) would not be reproducing any of the Frostburn book on the site or on the various egroups we use, and since we are not making any money on this, does the fact that Frostburn is not OGL affect us using it if WotC don't get back to us?

Thankyou for any help you can give me.

 

[DragonLancer]

No one able to help me out here?

 

[Wycen]

Eryx, this is solely for your own use, enjoyment, and not any money is exchanging hands, (except internet access fees)? Then it should be like any other thing you decide to use in any other game. Thus I would say you have nothing to worry about, unless later somebody decides to make some money somehow with bits included from Frostburn, like a pdf of your campaign setting with Frostburn monsters, spells, etc.

 

[Ranger REG]

No one able to help me out here?

Try Andy Smith of WotC.

 

[Morrus]

Souds to me like you're just usig the book in the way it was intended - to play D&D. I don't hitnk it makes any difference where you play D&D (at home, online, or wherever). As long as you're not publishing or distributing any of WotC content, there's no issue that I can see.

 

[DragonLancer]

Thanx for the help guys, much appreciated.

Morrus, this is where I'm confused you see... I don't know the legal side of things. We're an open to anyone Java based game and I'd rather not get jumped by WotC for allowing its use. Its not just a select groups of friends, this is for anyone to log in and play.

But as I read it, we're not publishing anything from the book, just using it for the game.

Thanks, Ranger REG. I've just e-mailed Andy Smith so I'll see what help I get.

 

[Staffan]

Morrus, this is where I'm confused you see... I don't know the legal side of things. We're an open to anyone Java based game and I'd rather not get jumped by WotC for allowing its use. Its not just a select groups of friends, this is for anyone to log in and play.

But as I read it, we're not publishing anything from the book, just using it for the game.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and this shouldn't be construed as legal advice or anything.

As long as you don't send each other excerpts from the book, there shouldn't be any legal troubles.

 

[DragonLancer]

Just a little update...

Got in tonight and had an e-mail from Andy Smith. Unfortunately he denied us permission to use Frostburn, until such time (if ever) it gets added to the SRD.

More than a little dissapointing but hey. Better that I asked first than get into trouble for just using it.