WotC is *NOT* Evil: THE FINALE

[shamsael]

I think another important thing to note is that they didn't say the "Would not" or or "Did not want to" explain why they had to refuse permission but that they "Could not." It is entirely probable that the CSR is not allowed to discuss legal matters because he is not trained for that.

Also, since your (or I for that matter) are not a copyright lawyer, you can't say in any degree of certainty that your request was harmless use. I know that it is considered a violation of copyright to duplicate the images in a book in order to show them to people who do not own that book. It is not harmless because anyone who might have wanted that book only to appreciate the art contained therein now does not need to purchase the book.

 

[Shazman]

Is this serious?

So, you emailed Customer Service, and asked them if you could re-publish WotC Intellectual Property online. Customer Service responded that you cannot. Then you asked them for a legal explanation, and they responded that they aren't lawyers, they're just doing what the lawyers say.

So now you say, you're going to play Pathfinder? [Mentioned at the end of the last spoiler tag]. Because non-lawyers at a company that makes its money selling IP don't want to give you permission to use their IP in ways the lawyers haven't approved to do?

Seriously?

Also, it's threads like this which give me the impression that no one actually plays Pathfinder because they like it, they only play it because of some innate disdain for the company that published D&D. I presume that isn't actually true, but you could sure get that impression from reading the boards.

Seriously? You think people play Pathfinder just to support a company that isn't WotC? Are you so enamored of WotC that you can't imagine why someone would play something besides 4E? Here's a newsflash. 4E isn't perfect. WotC is far from perfect and has done many things to antagonize current and former customers in the last few years. For many 4e doesn't fit their playstyle, and it isn't fun to them. Many liked 3.5 and earlier editions and didn't want the latest edition of D&D to be something completely unrecognizable to them. So they stick with 3.5 or move to a supported game like Pathfinder because it feels more like D&D to them. You may not believe it but it does happen that way.

 

[Umbran]

Well, it's getting a bit snippy in here, isn't it? I hope nobody here has forgotten that you cannot win message board threads, though it is sure starting to look that way.

Everyone should take about three steps back and try to be extra polite for a while. Thanks much.

 

[renau1g]

Seriously? You think people play Pathfinder just to support a company that isn't WotC? Are you so enamored of WotC that you can't imagine why someone would play something besides 4E? Here's a newsflash. 4E isn't perfect. WotC is far from perfect and has done many things to antagonize current and former customers in the last few years. For many 4e doesn't fit their playstyle, and it isn't fun to them. Many liked 3.5 and earlier editions and didn't want the latest edition of D&D to be something completely unrecognizable to them. So they stick with 3.5 or move to a supported game like Pathfinder because it feels more like D&D to them. You may not believe it but it does happen that way.

I don't think he said, or even insinuated that 4eor WotC was perfect, but there are many posts here by people upset with WotC (many times rightly so, i.e. PDF policy) and say "well I'm going to play Pathfinder" which makes it seem like a large % of that group is doing it to spite another company rather than for the merits of PF. I like both systems although I prefer the mechanics of 4e and the tremendous job that Paizo does with the more fluffy components and their adventures.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I hope nobody here has forgotten that you cannot win message board threads....

I wish somebody had told me this in 2003.

 

[Gloomshroud]

Well, that about sums it up, I suppose. Thanks to all of you who contributed! Never thought I'd learn valuable life lessons in an online forum, but truth is oft-times stranger than fiction! This thread was very fruitful for me!

Also, that "winning at threads" bit is good advice. As the above poster stated, wish I'd heard it a long time ago. Hehe.