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Forums > Home› Neverwinter Discussion › General Discussion (PC)

Copyright Infringement

squibshotsquibshot Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 34
edited February 2013 in General Discussion (PC)
So this is more geared towards the big-wigs as I would like to know their opinion on the matter. Forgive me if i've missed this in the licensing or user agreements.

With the prospect of player made material always an intriguing aspect for me since Neverwinter Nights, the information i've seen so far on the Foundry has rekindled that interest - hat tip to the dev's for making what seems a very cool system. How does WotC feel about remaking D&D publishing's (or 3rd party for that matter) in the form of NW? Living Forgotten Realm's module's, etc? I've seen it before with the remake of Pool of Radiance in NWN, which was very fun to play! It had put Phlan in a whole new light :cool:

Would I be looking at an applause for a job well done or a life time in prison? Would hope some players would tip some Zen if it is the latter ;)
Post edited by squibshot on

Comments

  • jim1771jim1771 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    I would love for them to do the Night Ventures series. My favorite was the first moduale Rahasia.
  • roadkillaroadkilla Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    i would imagin you could make foundry missions or arcs like those dnd packs but not exactly without getting there permission.
    there is alot of material to draw from for sure and the foundry is some thing i'm going to do when available.
    looking forward to it.
  • deathssickledeathssickle Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    We arent allowed to make official WotC modules/quests, etc. in Foundry. If you make a request, They might add it, heck I may ask them for you
    I am usually Deaths Crowbar.


    Anyone still searching for guilds you can check out HCG Hardcore Christian Gamers.
    NW FAQ | HCG NW Host Site
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • infrasoundxinfrasoundx Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 33
    edited February 2013
    Someone needs to find dems Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth!
  • squibshotsquibshot Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 34
    edited February 2013
    deathssickle wrote: »
    We arent allowed to make official WotC modules/quests, etc. in Foundry. If you make a request, They might add it, heck I may ask them for you

    It would certainly be nice to add many modules of various popularity and certainly multiple requests from the player base would help convince WotC to give the go ahead. Perhaps PWE would even put in a good word for high rated adventure authors if said author desired to remake publishings ;)

    I love the possibilities of the Foundry.
  • deathssickledeathssickle Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    squibshot wrote: »
    It would certainly be nice to add many modules of various popularity and certainly multiple requests from the player base would help convince WotC to give the go ahead. Perhaps PWE would even put in a good word for high rated adventure authors if said author desired to remake publishings ;)

    I love the possibilities of the Foundry.

    Like I said we cant make them but, Cryptic could if they wanted a WotC approved modules that come from official PnP stuff.

    We cant do it, for the fact that it would take WotC approving it every step of the way.

    Trust me though eventually you will know more.
    I am usually Deaths Crowbar.


    Anyone still searching for guilds you can check out HCG Hardcore Christian Gamers.
    NW FAQ | HCG NW Host Site
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • doubledigglerdoublediggler Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 14 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    A friend of mine used to always say "It's better to ask for foregiveness than permission" :)

    Kidding of course. Or am I? :)

    That said, when I look at some my favorite modules from PnP with an eye for attempting to recreate them (and I admit that I have thought about it), I think it would be difficult to create exact replicas of them with what little I currently know of the foundry tools. Maybe the toolset will be powerful enough to allow it, but when you look at the amount of narrative involved in most of them, story arcs, etc. I would think it may be difficult to create a "photocopy" of a published module.

    But what does intrigue me about the foundry and published wotc modules are the concepts of "story hooks" WOTC speaks of in most of their dungeon masters guides. I can definitely pay homage to their amazing work by taking the story hooks from their published modules and using them as inspiration as I create my own original content for the foundry. The way any PnP dungeon master worth his salt is already most likely doing anyway.

    Looking forward to playing with the foundry from beta all the way through launch and beyond.

    See you in game!
  • witchzerowitchzero Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 49
    edited February 2013
    You don't own the intellectual property in modules you create in the Foundry anyway. In the Copyright sense. You would basically be recreating WoTC intellectual property inside of an already licensed product. I would be interested to see how close someone could get a Module to resemble one from the PnP. There could be some content that isn't licensed or owned by WoTC...I am under the impression that WoTC owns all of it. Perhaps something outside of Forgotten Realms could get wierd because PerfectWorld probably only has a Forgotten Realms license.

    I'm no Lawyer but it just seems you would be doing the work for them, for free. If you could add to the player base and the revenue you get from a license for free...why would you get in the way? (dumber things have happened...but you get the point)
  • lanessar13lanessar13 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users, Silverstars Posts: 8 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    As a way around this, you CAN make a "tribute" module. That qualifies as fanfic, as long as exact characters and layouts differ from the original.

    For example, you can remake the Tomb Of Horrors, with some variation as to rooms, encounters, and named boss fights. For example, the PCs might fight Dvorak, the apprentice of Acerak.

    Then name it "Return to the Tombs" or something a bit snazzier like "Horrors Revisited". You can even mention the original in the description such as "Centuries after the original Lich-King has been banished, a new evil arises in the Tomb of Horrors!".

    Point being, there is latitude as long as you are creative, and not just copying.
  • deathssickledeathssickle Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    From what I understand if it is your own thing you can make a similar one that is a revisit or whatever, but it cant be a blatant re-do
    I am usually Deaths Crowbar.


    Anyone still searching for guilds you can check out HCG Hardcore Christian Gamers.
    NW FAQ | HCG NW Host Site
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • kamaliiciouskamaliicious Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    lanessar13 wrote: »
    As a way around this, you CAN make a "tribute" module. That qualifies as fanfic, as long as exact characters and layouts differ from the original.

    For example, you can remake the Tomb Of Horrors, with some variation as to rooms, encounters, and named boss fights. For example, the PCs might fight Dvorak, the apprentice of Acerak.
    Ah yes, Dvorak, the boss that can be defeated by typing.
  • squibshotsquibshot Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 34
    edited February 2013
    witchzero wrote: »
    ... I would be interested to see how close someone could get a Module to resemble one from the PnP. There could be some content that isn't licensed or owned by WoTC ...


    As I mentioned in the OP, there was a remake of Pool of Radiance which was surprisingly very well done with impressive detail relating to the original and it stayed available for years. The NPC's were the same, the map was remarkably similar, you came across the same enemies... on and on... remember the key you find on the skeleton body in the NW corner when you first enter the Keep? That is just an example.

    Granted, PoR was owned by TSR prior to WotC taking over and NWN was owned by Bioware. Also, this was a copy from one game platform to an entirely different platform - not written material - but the same rules apply, I believe. Things might naturally be different in this case - i've no idea as the legal system might as well be another language. Regardless, there were no ramifications for this remake that I am aware of. As far as I know, this was made by a random fan of the game(s). Other than this, I really have little more detail to go on :D

    I do like the thought of making a tribute to a module or series of modules but to remain with my original question about copyrights, i still feel that pull to remain true to a specific publishing - with permission. That's just me
  • squibshotsquibshot Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 34
    edited February 2013
    Found it!

    http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=1706
  • ambisinisterrambisinisterr Member, Neverwinter Moderator Posts: 10,462 Community Moderator
    edited February 2013
    squibshot wrote: »
    Granted, PoR was owned by TSR prior to WotC taking over and NWN was owned by Bioware. Also, this was a copy from one game platform to an entirely different platform - not written material - but the same rules apply, I believe. Things might naturally be different in this case - i've no idea as the legal system might as well be another language. Regardless, there were no ramifications for this remake that I am aware of. As far as I know, this was made by a random fan of the game(s). Other than this, I really have little more detail to go on :D

    Actually the bigger issue is that Neverwinter Nights toolset was for private users and hosted by private users.
    When things are in MMO's Copyrights are taken much more seriously.

    STO for example, I know, does not permit TV Episodes to be recreated and characters are not supposed to share the names or likeness of official characters.

    All I can say is there has been no Official word from Cryptic, PWE or WotC on this subject yet and in theory it could go either way. I'm hoping for the best but being prepared for the worst.
    While Modules are covered under copyright laws WotC might consider that any use of their content could not only end up good for Neverwinter but in a way act as cross-platform advertizing. There are many people who aren't familiar with D&D who might get interested in Dungeons and Dragons if the game is not only successful as an MMO but shows some of the best that PnP has to offer.

    But again, there's been no official information on The Foundry Rules and Regulations released yet.
  • nephtnepht Member Posts: 5,826 Arc User
    edited February 2013
    If in doubt dont do it :I
    nepht_siggy_by_nepht-d8xf5sk.jpg
    Nepht and Dr Deflecto on primus
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