It would seem that you could use portions of it, at least, much as Dragon Kings had various war machines. As long as you aren't printing out actual rules or making the book superfluos, I don't think Wizards would care. Then again, it would suck to be wrong on something like that.
The book in question is not core (PHB, DMG, MM, XPH, ELH).
Most of the non-core books, and some chapters or sections of core books, are not OGC, so we can't use them.
You should never, never, never assume that anything you read in the Core books if OGC. Methods for character generation, for instance, are not Open Content. The Open Gaming License expressly forbids anyone using Open Gaming Content licensed by the OGL to provide their own character generation methods or describe a process for applying experience to a character.
If it is Open Content, it will be found here for D20 or here for D20 Modern or in the Unearthed Arcana book.
That said, while Athas.org can not republish material of WotC's that isn't Open Content, they can refer to WotC books for people to go reference.
I've been D20-ifying a set of house rules for Dark Sun for me to use, and the Black Company setting has much to like for Dark Sun, IMO.
"Belgoi, Str - blah, Dex - blah, Con - blah, blah, blah, blah" [inserting actual information in place of "blahs" of course]
That is not a copyright infringement, because you must own the core books in order to understand what the hell a "Con" is in this context.
The same usually goes for other books as well. Once this bit comes out, as long as you don't include the rules or devalue their book, you should not be liable. If you simply include stats for a mekillot in this combat system, you are not violating the copyright. Describe what those stats mean, or how to use them, and you are.
The OGL (and I'll have my lawyer take a closer look) complicates things a little bit, because now certain groups can put out "official" products as long as they follow the guidelines precisely. If something is not covered under the OGL, I assume it would follow standard copyright laws for the US.
I'll take a closer look, though.
If something is not covered under the OGL, I assume it would follow standard copyright laws for the US.
I'll take a closer look, though.
If you are using the D20 license or the OGL, it's not a matter of copyright violation. It is a matter of violating Product Identity, which is spelled out explicitly in the Open Game License, and it is not the same as copyright at all. If you infringe on declarations of Product Identity, you don't violate copyright, you violate the terms of the Open Game License.
WotC has pretty much declared all they produce as Product Identity, unless it is in the SRD, Modern SRD, and Unearthed Arcana.
WotC takes the name "Belgoi" as its Product Identity, for instance, until it makes its way into the SRDs. If it came close to resembling the "Belgoi" that is used in Athas material you couldn't call it that unless you could somehow make a case that you came up with the word without influence from Dark Sun. The rules and stats are another matter. Remember, there are bunches of monsters in the Monster Manual that aren't in the SRD, btw. WotC claims them exclusively as so special to D&D that giving them out, in their opinion, could dilute the uniqueness of D&D and thus it's appeal. You can still use them, but only if you enter into new license negotiated just for that case.
Go ahead and use the stats and rules, of course, but still be careful.
If you are using the D20 license or the OGL, it's not a matter of copyright violation. It is a matter of violating Product Identity, which is spelled out explicitly in the Open Game License, and it is not the same as copyright at all. If you infringe on declarations of Product Identity, you don't violate copyright, you violate the terms of the Open Game License.
But athas.org aren't writing Dark Sun d20.
They are writing Dark Sun for Dungeon & Dragons 3.5.
Is there some clause limiting what rules they can use to do the conversion?
If not, those rules could be referenced (to avoid distributing them for free). Already Terrors of Athas has a list of monsters published in other non-core rulebooks that are considered appropriate for Dark Sun.
On the other hand, it seems that Wizards is shooting itself in the foot: this is basically free advertising for a book that not many people will buy given its specialty. Look how hard TSR had to push Battlesystem, and it still failed. I'm not arguing with you, I'm arguing with the corporate logic, here. Games Workshop has the miniature wargame market saturated and well-monopolied; Wizards is crazy if they think they'll break that stranglehold with anything but a fan-based system of support.
But athas.org aren't writing Dark Sun d20.
They are writing Dark Sun for Dungeon & Dragons 3.5.
Is there some clause limiting what rules they can use to do the conversion?
If not, those rules could be referenced (to avoid distributing them for free). Already Terrors of Athas has a list of monsters published in other non-core rulebooks that are considered appropriate for Dark Sun.
Actually, no. In fact, referencing even the name of another book by WotC where the name of the book isn't covered under the Open Gaming License, violates the license. If I remember correctly, the only book one can reference within a d20 System material, made by Wizards, is the Player's Handbook. And even then, you can only reference that it is required for use of the d20 System, which your work relies upon.
Now, referencing in creature names from non-Dark Sun books... That acually is kinda pushing it, and I have a feeling that if WotC spoke up, they'd remove that list of names.
.You're probably right about that, Xlor. Ho hum...
Now, referencing in creature names from non-Dark Sun books... That acually is kinda pushing it, and I have a feeling that if WotC spoke up, they'd remove that list of names.
(Makes sure to have current version of Terrors of Athas saved in 3 different computers and backed up in 5 different CD-ROMs)
So there can't be immediate or sudden actions on Athas?
Eric - makes a lot more sense, then.
On the other hand, it seems that Wizards is shooting itself in the foot: this is basically free advertising for a book that not many people will buy given its specialty. Look how hard TSR had to push Battlesystem, and it still failed.
Absolutely.
And lets also remember that the official fansites fall into a middle ground between normal D20 licensees or OGL users and WotC "freelancers". Athas.org does have permission to use WotC's Dark Sun intellectual property that no one else can have without negotiating special use licenses. Paizo pretty much did this when they penned the contract to publish Dragon and Dungeon for WotC. Short of licensing whole settings, item by item, I've heard that WotC is actually pretty open about this though.
So I'm not sure where the fansites fall with being able to reference (but not republish material from) non-Core books. I'd imagine they are given a bit more flexibility
WotC shouldn't be made out to be the equivalent of the "Apple Computer" of the RPG business, suing every fan who violates their intellectual property. They don't even come close. There are better things their lawyers can do.
Reprint the entire book with a "Dark Sun Slant?" That's a little different and wasn't what I was suggesting.