WotC is *NOT* Evil: THE FINALE

[Gloomshroud]

This is why it's called Intellectual Property. It's not a tangible thing, and cannot be treated as such. Once that burger's eaten, it's gone. Once you put an image on your website, who knows how many people will download and distribute it.


That's not what you paid for, of course. You paid for the physical product, not for the right to reproduce the artwork within. They might not even have the right to let you use the images in the way you describe, as pointed out above. We don't know what their contracts with the artists look like, so they might be unable to grant your request, even if they w3ere inclined to do so.

No, that entitles you to the products you spent a ridiculous sum on and nothing more.

If you thought the sum was ridiculous, you didn't have to purchase the products... That's the miracle of capitalism.


But, for that matter, you did get support. The support was: "Sorry, you can't use that. Here is what you can use."

Aye. The issue is settled, then. Title being changed.

 

[Nork]

I'm going to go on a "tangent" here. Tell you a nice story that has nothing to do with anything.

Have you ever heard the phrase "it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission?"

Lets say a soldier sees a quick and easy way to accomplish a task, except it isn't the approved way to accomplish the task that is in the field manual covering that task.

Now, this soldier could go ask their superior for permission. Their superior is going to say no and be mad the soldier asked, even if the superior thinks it is a good idea. This is because if the superior says yes, then they are approving and sanctioning the the action and are placing their head on the chopping block if something goes wrong. If the superior says no, then if the soldier does it, they are disobeying.

However, if the soldier goes ahead and does it without asking permission... Well if it works, the superior can turn a blind eye and simply somehow "fail to notice" that a task is being done in a way other than the way the manual says. If an accident happens, so long as the soldier was doing nothing reckless or stupid, then the soldier can play dumb and say "Oh, I didn't realize that wasn't an approved method", and the superior can wag their finger and tell them to not do it like that in the future. Either way, the soldier and the superior both live happily ever after.

~ See moderator note on next page... ~

 

[Mad Hamish]

Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

I'm not overly sure that works as an argument in courts...and the cost of defending against an IP lawsuit aren't cheap

 

[Riley]

Very reasonable. Now, about that thread title?

Why WotC is Evil...

I was really hoping the follow-up would be: "Because they keep making great products that I want to buy and use in my game!"

I mean, really, they've just dumped a great Dark Sun 4e and the Tomb of Horrors sequel on us, and they're following it up with an updated Gamma World.

(Gaming) life is good.

 

[renau1g]

I'm going to go on a "tangent" here. Tell you a nice story that has nothing to do with anything.

Have you ever heard the phrase "it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission?"

Here.... let me tell you another nice story "There is a hoary L. legal maxim: ignorantia iuris neminem excusat, ignorance of the law excuses nobody."

 

[Gloomshroud]

I was really hoping the follow-up would be: "Because they keep making great products that I want to buy and use in my game!"

I mean, really, they've just dumped a great Dark Sun 4e and the Tomb of Horrors sequel on us, and they're following it up with an updated Gamma World.

(Gaming) life is good.

Title changed.

 

[Gloomshroud]

I was really hoping the follow-up would be: "Because they keep making great products that I want to buy and use in my game!"

I mean, really, they've just dumped a great Dark Sun 4e and the Tomb of Horrors sequel on us, and they're following it up with an updated Gamma World.

(Gaming) life is good.

Title changed. Took me a sec to figure out HOW!

 

[FireLance]

OK, I think this thread is almost done, but I wanted to get one final quip in.

Colonel Sanders

Maybe he could teach EvilQAGuy's DM how to deal with chickens!

 

[Umbran]

I'm going to go on a "tangent" here. Tell you a nice story that has nothing to do with anything.

Have you ever heard the phrase "it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission?"

Okay, shall I break out the usual spiel again?

EN World does not condone or support violation of copyright. We do not allow EN World to be used for transfer of illegally copied materials, nor do we allow this site to be used to communicate about where to find such materials.

In short - we don't want to hear about how you break the law. And, honestly, admitting to doing so in a public place where industry professionals come is not what I'd call a bright move, so I would suggest against it.

I hope our policies on this matter are now clear. Thanks all for your time and attention.

 

[nnms]

Thanks for the reminder.

Let's look at the consequences of using Wizard's art printed off at your gaming table:
- Your players report you!
- Wizards does nothing (likely) or send you a letter asking you to stop

Now let's look at the consequences of using their art on a non-commercial website:
- Wizards notices and sends you a cease and desist letter asking you to remove their art work.
- You remove it.
- They thank you for complying.

No one can advocate for the violation of WotC's exclusive rights to the reproduction and distribution of the images they publish here on Enworld. It's simply against the rules for reasons I think everyone understands.

We should also be realistic that if someone does go ahead and use their images on their website and doesn't do so with a commercial purpose, the worst that's going to happen is that WotC sends them a letter instructing them to remove the images. If they don't, WotC then sends it to their host and their webhost removes the whole site. Wizards actually taking you to court for damages is pretty much not going to happen as there are no damages to sue for.

Nothing in this post constitutes legal advice.