Questions tagged [intellectual-property]
For questions related to copyright, trademark, and/or patent law as it applies to the publication and distribution of tabletop RPGs.
11
votes
1answer
393 views
Is Forgotten Realms geo-location data copyrighted, or free to use?
I am in the process of creating a gis map of Toril, starting from the Faerun Continent. (More details are in this question on GIS.SE: Starting a QGIS project for a fantasy world map from raster images....
8
votes
1answer
232 views
Who owns the Dragonlance intellectual property?
This answer states that Margaret Weis "owns" Dragonlance, and that she "won the rights to Dragonlance in a court battle." Is this accurate? I could not find any details of such a court battle, or ...
8
votes
1answer
256 views
How to get permission to use Monster Manual images in articles and adventures “courtesy of Wizards of the Coast”?
We notice that a variety of online articles appear to have received permission from Wizards of the Coast for use of their images from the Monster Manual (such as this Nerdarchy article which uses a ...
-3
votes
1answer
500 views
Can a PC protected by copyright be used by the DM without player permission? [closed]
A player owns the copyright on their character as long as that character meets copyright criteria and was featured in something before being in the campaign, such as a backstory or drawing. This has ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Dungeons and Dragons god symbols in real life crafts [closed]
I understand that the D&D deities of the multiverse and various setting pantheons are protected by copyright laws, as are official artworks, but is there anything prohibiting a hobbyist from ...
11
votes
1answer
493 views
If Drow and Duergar are allowed as monsters in the D&D 5e SRD, are they allowed as subraces as well?
I'm developing a campaign setting with my S.O. which we intend to publish. (We're uncertain of exactly where we'll publish yet.) I was reading through the D&D 5e SRD released under OGL to see what ...
21
votes
1answer
2k views
Which part of the PHB is free for public use?
I'm designing an iOS app could help us in game. The app including a "spell quick reference" section. Can I use the spell list in the PHB? In the future, I want to add more to it, like feats. Can I use ...
5
votes
1answer
351 views
Creating an RPG with a similar setting to Shadowrun: is it a derivative work?
I have spent a lot of time looking at both other posts on this form about derivative work and its actual definition/ conditions, but I would like to hear your thoughts on this specific case. I have ...
3
votes
1answer
271 views
What can I include in 3rd-party content? [duplicate]
What WotC 5e D&D content am I and am I not allowed to use in published 3rd-party content? Core books? Books like Xanathar's and Volo's? Unearthed Arcana? How do I avoid plagiarism, copyright ...
7
votes
1answer
315 views
Are monster names covered as identity under the OGL or otherwise copyrighted?
Can I reuse the names of monsters from works published under the Open Gaming license, specifically monsters found in the Pathfinder Bestiary, the Open Pathfinder SRD web site or books published under ...
3
votes
2answers
587 views
Can I use the example character names from the PHB for characters in a story I'm writing?
My problem is that I was in need of a nice-sounding name for a character during one DnD session, so I used one from the Player’s Handbook, since I thought that it’s not going to be an extremely ...
14
votes
1answer
2k views
Can I mention Dungeons & Dragons in a D&D 5e OGL product description?
I have been thinking of publishing a D&D 5th edition module under the open gaming license (OGL).
I understand the phrase "Dungeons & Dragons" product title is copyrighted trademarked and thus ...
2
votes
0answers
137 views
How hard is it to get a license from WotC to publish a novel set in a D&D setting? [closed]
Everybody is trying to get around writing their own stories without infringing any copyrights by WotC. That got me wondering...
How hard could it be to obtain a license to actually publish a book ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
What kind of license or ownership does uploading content to D&D Beyond grant WOTC?
I remember when DM's Guild first came out there were some concerns regarding the licensing terms you agree to when uploading homebrew content. At first it seemed like you granted ownership of your IP ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I publish my own books for use with D&D 5th edition?
I've had artistic skills since I was a kid and I love D&D, and I want to create some books. I would be trying to fund them with KickStarter — 100 new monsters, 100 NPCs, 100 map tiles, and stuff ...
6
votes
2answers
454 views
Is there any copyright infringement if you prepare a campaign setting based on a published book or movie?
I'm working on a project to prepare roleplaying settings. We first wanted to make it for ourselves but we thought that if anyone wants to use it why not. We even thought further and figured that it ...
1
vote
1answer
228 views
Is there a definitive set of monster icons or images that is royalty free? [closed]
I'm about to start broadcasting a D&D campaign on roll20 via twitch.tv. My current account is loaded with images that are, suffice to say, copyright infringement. I intend to replace all of the ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
Open Gaming License and Novels
I would like to write an RPG licensed under the OGL that draws inspiration (but does not contain any copyrighted material etc.) from novels and other forms of media. How could I reference those books ...
17
votes
4answers
1k views
What's the legality of making a character editor?
I want to develop a character editor for role-playing games. At first just for one game, but I want to expand it later to cover multiple games.
What laws (like copyright and intellectual-property) do ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Is there public domain prior art for frost-breathing Winter Wolves? [closed]
Does anyone know of any public domain prior art for the breath weapon of D&D's winter wolf? I ask because I'd like to use ice-breathing wolves in fiction, but would have to avoid litigation in ...
14
votes
1answer
2k views
Is it legal to make a D&D 5e character sheet app?
I am working on a simple Android app. My app implements a D&D 5e character sheet. It lets the user fill form fields and calculates the effects of level progression and attributes. I am not using ...
5
votes
1answer
124 views
May I link to SRD in a document under OGL?
I am writing a house rules document for a Pathfinder game. Not publishing it would be a pity, and not using OGL to publish it likewise, since publishing the house rules under OGL allows others to use ...
4
votes
1answer
4k views
Legality of publishing a book based on a D&D game
I'm planning to write a book based on a game of Dungeons and Dragons. The rest of the people in my party will get credit as will the DM, who wrote the adventure. If I change the things that were ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Does the OGL let me write D&D 5e compatible rulebooks legally?
In the D&D 5th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide, there are two magic items named The Book of Exalted Deeds and The Book of Vile Darkness. In their description, under "Vile Lore" it says that the DM ...
7
votes
3answers
398 views
Is the Greyhawk pantheon protected “Product identity”?
A bit off the usual topic here but I thought I'd see if anyone knew:
Specifically, I'm wondering whether I could make and sell non-game products (like t-shirts, for example) that feature Greyhawk ...
4
votes
1answer
278 views
What legal issues will I have with copying themes and ideas from existing RPG's?
So I've ben building a tabletop RPG for quite a few years, gone through all the mechanics, we have a timeline laid out for doing a TON of playtesting (individually, local friends, local game stores, ...
6
votes
2answers
512 views
Can you publish a commercial rpg using the Gumshoe SRD?
As a Kickstarter reward, the Gumshoe ruleset (used in games such as Trail of Cthulhu and Mutant City Blues) was released as an SRD. You can get it here:
https://pelgranepress.com/index.php/tag/open-...
2
votes
1answer
537 views
Can I Write A Story Within The Forgotten Realms And Publish it? [duplicate]
If I were to use a character, say a Deva, and create a story using them can I publish it?
For things like town names, God titles and small amounts of lore I can change them. But the real question is, ...
6
votes
1answer
585 views
Writing stories based on a D&D homebrew setting
I've been considering writing and posting (for free) stories based on a homebrew D&D setting I came up with. Most of the questions on here deal with the legality of posting rules mechanics etc, ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the required process to (partially) reproduce D&D rulebooks?
Say I wanted to create (and sell) an original design of the D&D 5e Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and some original cartography of Forgotten Realms locations. This would mostly be a ...
26
votes
2answers
2k views
What is an SRD for?
Some RPGs have SRDs. Wikipedia tells me that they are System Reference Documents, but that it's largely a D&D thing, and doesn't explain why they exist. Only that they do.
This answer suggests ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Is it legal to write and publish a novel based on a pre-existing campaign or setting?
I have read over the OGL and researched copyright laws, but I still am not sure how much of what I want to do is legal. What if someone wanted to write a story about a pre-existing campaign, such as ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the legal/ethical considerations of republishing old adventures for new editions?
I am a lazy GM and I rely a lot on published adventures. Particularly shorter ones: I get a lot of pleasure from tweaking and arranging them into a coherent narrative frame for a campaign.
I've been ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Do Tabletop RPGs Require a Copyright?
I am currently creating a Tabletop RPG and I have already found a few ways to publish it. The main problem I am having is this: if I want to get credit for making the game, and receive any and all ...
23
votes
3answers
10k views
What Information Can I Use If I Want To Publish My Own D&D 5e Module?
I intend to write a D&D module and publish it under the OGL (I know 5e itself isn't OGL, see note below) for use with both D&D 5e and AD&D. I know there are areas where I can't draw ...
24
votes
6answers
4k views
Is it legally okay to blog a D&D 5e story (actual play)
Okay, this might be a stupid question (sorry about that) and possibly even a duplicate, but is it okay legally to blog a D&D 5e story, that is, to publish a kind of "actual play" publicly?
Sure I ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
Are the Gods in Forgotten Realms under copyright?
I'm in the midst of writing a story involving Cyric and Tharizdon butting heads over a group of mortals attempting to obtain one of Cyric's toys and destroy it. (based on a 2 dungeon master, dungeon ...
10
votes
1answer
421 views
Is the NDA for DnDNext still in Effect?
When signing up for the playtest, you sign an agreement that basically says you can't quote or share material from the playtest packet.
However, recently, Wizards of the Coast has started to sell ...
8
votes
3answers
790 views
What exactly does Paizo consider Product Identity?
What I am trying to do:
I am building a character sheet application for use on my phone or tablet and would like to be able to make a few bucks off of it should it turn out handy during my own game ...
10
votes
2answers
695 views
Reproduction of copyrighted content by website users [closed]
TL:DR
Do I need to restrict users of my site from contributing RPG content that is copyrighted (non-OGL)? Or is there some way to allow the reproduction of such content by users (or even by the whole ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Is it legal to “use” (reference) copyrighted material in a way that requires ownership of its original publication?
The actual question:
Suppose I wrote a campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, and wanted to say something like “To use this material, you need Tome of Battle by Wizards of the Coast,&...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
What guides and resources exist for creating custom classes in Dungeon World?
I already own and have access to the Dungeon World book/manual and I've read and will refer to the Advanced Delving section. Beyond that however I'm looking for any other guidelines and tips when ...
11
votes
2answers
429 views
Does White Wolf still own BESM and is anyone licensing it from them?
I would like to know what the current ownership situation around BESM is. Here's the story as I know it from my research:
In 2006, when Guardians of Order went out of business, ArtHaus, a subsidiary ...
2
votes
0answers
154 views
Is the SPECIAL attribute-system (the one used in the Fallout games) copyrighted? [duplicate]
I have tried to search the Internet for this.
I am thinking of creating my own (commercial) RPG and I am also thinking of using the same set of attributes the popular Fallout games are using, also ...
20
votes
3answers
5k views
Is it legal to write and distribute adventures or campaign settings for D&D 3.5?
I am considering writing and selling adventures and/or a campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons v3.5 and I am wondering if it is legal to do so. Also what am I allowed to use from the official ...
22
votes
2answers
7k views
Can I use existing game mechanics in my own designs?
To what extent is it permissible to use aspects of a given system (for commercial use)? Say I wanted to have rules for how a skill check works, do I have to be careful that I am not using the same as ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
What are the legal issues for making a fan RPG of a licensed property using GURPS?
There are a lot of great franchises which don't have tabletop RPGs for them and I've seen that GURPS can handle, or give a valiant attempt at least basically anything, and I've seen for example ...
19
votes
4answers
10k views
How would I go about publishing the RPGs I've created?
I've written three games that are all pretty much finished, and I want to move forward with them. The next logical step is publication, but where do I go to find out about publishing a board/table-...
