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Legal limits to what i can share

T

Tabris

Member
I'm curious and want to know what data files and other materials i can share in the forum?

If i make a data set for a given system can i share it there?
If i make a file with content from a third party source for a given supported system (Say i convert material by Super Genius Games for Pathfinder) can i share it here without problems?
 
You should refer to the respective products/companies' copyright/license statements before deciding if something can be shared or not. (For Pathfinder/SGG products that means what and if they have listed something as open content).

If in doubt, don't. ;) (or ask a lawyer to make sure).
 
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Leonal said:
You should refer to the respective products/companies' copyright/license statements before deciding if something can be shared or not. (For Pathfinder/SGG products that means what and if they have listed something as open content).

If in doubt, don't. ;) (or ask a lawyer to make sure).
Click to expand...
Thanks. So for my example it's mostly a yes, but only because basically every mechanic presented by Super Genius Games is OGC but if i decided to convert Sundered Skies from Savage Worlds (Not sure if it's already part of it or not, don't have the data set for Savage Worlds yet) i would not be able to share it?
 
I would assume so, but haven't read the SW license.
For Paizo material for example, you'd also need to include the relevant Community Use Policy text (as stated in the CUP) too.
 
I'd say in a text file following the shared file, and/or the web page it is hosted on. (But I'm just a user, and I'm sure the CUP and Paizo can give a more concise answer)... :)
 
The public sharing of content is ultimately governed by the company that created that content. The fact that it's been transcribed into Hero Lab data files does not change anything. Consequently, if the original content is open, then you can freely share it in any form (including HL data files). If the original content is NOT open, then you would have to check with the publisher.

That being said, most publishers want players using the material they create, and anything that better enables that use is generally considered a "good thing". So most publishers would be happy to see Hero Lab data files created for their games. The key factor then becomes the extent to which the content is reconstructed within the data files. If the content is fully available through the data files - to the point where the books become less critical - the publisher may want a royalty of some sort. However, if the content in the data files is less extensive, many publishers will be happy to give their blessings without any royalty. The decision is ultimately in the hands of each publisher, though, and the views of one publisher may differ from another. So you'll need to check with the publisher for non-open content.

Hope this helps....
 
Thank you rob, that is definitely sage advice !

I've just rejoined the local RPing community after a ~15 year absence. So I was completely overwhelmed as to how much the RP landscape has changed since the days of AD&D V2.

Firstly, just let me say what a wonderful tool Hero Lab is. ***WARNING - FANBOI MOMENT *** I'm only using the D20 system at the moment but I'm really impressed with it. So impressed, that I have started a Book of Vile Darkness data file for my benevolently challenged NPCs & Mob bosses.

So before I get too deep into it (I've just completed the level one spell list). I need to ask a few questions of the community.

1) Has anyone started a BVD data file already ?

2) Who owns the 3.0 / 3.5 source book material now ?

Cheers in advance

P.
 
the publishers of the books still own their source material. So, for 3.0/3.5 its Wizards of The Coast/Hasbro, unless its a third party.

I would check the D20 forums as far as the BVD. A lot of stuff has been done in the community files, so some of that may be done. dont know.
 
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Although you have to remember the OGL for the d20 stuff is pretty open. So as long as you aren't trying to sell a reformatted product from someone else you are probably OK.

But check the d20 repository before you start on new materials to see if it isnt already done.
 
the OGL stuff for D20 is a lot less open than people think. its important to remember what stuff in the core books falls under OGL and what stuff falls under published WoTC stuff.

much of the D20 stuff actually doesnt fall under the OGL. the various core books are (for the most part, except for flavor content, which is why you lose things like "Heward's" in "Heward's Handy Haversack", but many of the add-on's arent. This is why back in the day, that companies that were doing generations for the "splat" books had to pull them from their oferrings when they used to have data files for those books. Before I ever used hero lab, this was a big issue with some of the generators that were dealing with WoTC draconian policies. (back in the day of their "E-tools", and eventually PCGen).

But I agree with chiefweasel's point "you are probably ok" if you're just going to try to share it, and not sell it. Its just that its incredibly unlikely (and unrealistic) for WoTC to come after you if they arent being hampered financially. If you were to try to sell a data file, that would probably be a different story.

This is why the d20 repository, which is community supported, and not LoneWolf supported, can do a lot of what it can.

All this is my opinion, and not based in any facts (other than some knowledge of the history of WoTC)
 
Thats true, I should have claerified myself. The core books fall under the OGL.

Also since the d20 (minus 4th edition) are dead properties in the sense that Wizards is not making anymore information for them, they really shouldn't be too concerened with free materials being made from their existing information.

I have been curious to ask a Wizards manager at Gen Con some year to try and get a true answer. I did ask via email a few years back but the reply I got didnt help at all so I didnt go anywhere with it.

If anyone has a friend who works at Wizards maybe they could pass it along and have them follow it up.
 
My experience with Wizards as a company and software has been nothing but bad. While I agree with you in theory that they shouldnt be concerned with free materials coming from their information, i wouldnt be surprised that if it became prolific enough they might get involved. But then gain, maybe not. d20 and 3.5 is in a weird state now. When 4th editioncame out, they demanded stores to destroy (yep, destroy) all the books. So 3.5 books became a premium on places like amazon. Then the reprint. If WoTC sees a way to make money, they will. In my opinion, they just arent a trustworthy organization.

I think you're safe for free stuff.
 
I agree Mirtos as well. I have had a few dealings with Wizards in the past, and little of it has been what I would call good.

They are a big company and make a lot of money, they don't do so by playing nice.
 
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