If DnDBeyond is not part of WotC, then under what license are they able to distribute rules not in the SRD. If I buy some book from them, are they then turning around and buying a pdf. copy of the book for me (one for each person who buys a copy of the book from DnDBeyond) in order for me to see those rules in the DnDBeyond daatabase?
If DnDBeyond is not part of WotC, then under what license are they able to distribute rules not in the SRD. If I buy some book from them, are they then turning around and buying a pdf. copy of the book for me (one for each person who buys a copy of the book from DnDBeyond) in order for me to see those rules in the DnDBeyond daatabase?
They are basically a license broker, buying a book from them gains you access to the book because they pay WoTC a portion of what you paid.
They made a deal with WoTC so basically WoTC agreed they will get X amount from each digital book license DDB sells.
And that is how they handle access to, say, subclasses in the character builder that aren't in the srd? You, as an end user, get access to them because DnDBeyond bought a copy of the game in your name?
And obviously D&DB has a more complex distribution agreement with WotC than general users (or retailers of the books) do...one that allows them to piecemeal aspects of each IP for individual purchase. Both groups likely have a legal team that handles the details.
If you are asking because you are worried about D&DB being shut down due to not having a license to do what they do, don't worry about that. If you are looking for details on the specific agreement, your best bet is to get a law degree, get hired to either Fandom or WotC, and join the team handling those details, because as Farling said, the actual agreement is likely never going to be released to the public.
If you are asking because you are worried about D&DB being shut down due to not having a license to do what they do, don't worry about that.
Any time you buy electronic materials that you don't physically owned, this concern cannot be simply dismissed. If Amazon went bankrupt tomorrow and vanished as a company, it is possible that every single kindle book everyone has ever bought could become inaccessible. We would hope, with a big company like Amazon, someone would buy up the Kindle rights and continue to host. But we've seen these kind of things happen before, and buying an electronic product that is hosted off-site and not on your own computer always runs at least a small risk of losing access to the materials.
I'd agree it's probably not something to actively worry about... but one cannot simply say it would never happen. Companies acting as 3rd parties to an IP lose licenses not infrequently, and become unable to continue distributing those materials.
If you are asking because you are worried about D&DB being shut down due to not having a license to do what they do, don't worry about that.
Any time you buy electronic materials that you don't physically owned, this concern cannot be simply dismissed. If Amazon went bankrupt tomorrow and vanished as a company, it is possible that every single kindle book everyone has ever bought could become inaccessible. We would hope, with a big company like Amazon, someone would buy up the Kindle rights and continue to host. But we've seen these kind of things happen before, and buying an electronic product that is hosted off-site and not on your own computer always runs at least a small risk of losing access to the materials.
I'd agree it's probably not something to actively worry about... but one cannot simply say it would never happen. Companies acting as 3rd parties to an IP lose licenses not infrequently, and become unable to continue distributing those materials.
My comment wasn't to say that it would never happen, it was to say that D&DB is not currently operating outside a valid licensing agreement (at least as much as we can verify as consumers). It is true that the business can fail, or shut down voluntarily, or change in a significant manner, or that the agreement could end for any reason, but that is the same risk for any online or company that uses a license to provide a service (like, as you mention, Amazon, and many others), and is the "standard" level of risk we assume as consumers when making a purchase of their licensed products (and why you should read the EUA for those services).
Their contract seems to be pretty much the same as that of Roll 20 and Fantasy Grounds. Both platforms provide full text of books inside their platform, if you pay for those books.
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If DnDBeyond is not part of WotC, then under what license are they able to distribute rules not in the SRD. If I buy some book from them, are they then turning around and buying a pdf. copy of the book for me (one for each person who buys a copy of the book from DnDBeyond) in order for me to see those rules in the DnDBeyond daatabase?
They are basically a license broker, buying a book from them gains you access to the book because they pay WoTC a portion of what you paid.
They made a deal with WoTC so basically WoTC agreed they will get X amount from each digital book license DDB sells.
And that is how they handle access to, say, subclasses in the character builder that aren't in the srd? You, as an end user, get access to them because DnDBeyond bought a copy of the game in your name?
It's like a distribution license. Amazon didn't buy movies from production studios, they bought a license to distribute said movies.
The actual details of the deal might be accessible to the public but I am not educated in the specifics of the deal.
Buyers Guide for D&D Beyond - Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You - How/What is Toggled Content?
Everything you need to know about Homebrew - Homebrew FAQ - Digital Book on D&D Beyond Vs Physical Books
Can't find the content you are supposed to have access to? Read this FAQ.
"Play the game however you want to play the game. After all, your fun doesn't threaten my fun."
Usually the details of such deals are NOT made public.
And obviously D&DB has a more complex distribution agreement with WotC than general users (or retailers of the books) do...one that allows them to piecemeal aspects of each IP for individual purchase. Both groups likely have a legal team that handles the details.
If you are asking because you are worried about D&DB being shut down due to not having a license to do what they do, don't worry about that. If you are looking for details on the specific agreement, your best bet is to get a law degree, get hired to either Fandom or WotC, and join the team handling those details, because as Farling said, the actual agreement is likely never going to be released to the public.
Any time you buy electronic materials that you don't physically owned, this concern cannot be simply dismissed. If Amazon went bankrupt tomorrow and vanished as a company, it is possible that every single kindle book everyone has ever bought could become inaccessible. We would hope, with a big company like Amazon, someone would buy up the Kindle rights and continue to host. But we've seen these kind of things happen before, and buying an electronic product that is hosted off-site and not on your own computer always runs at least a small risk of losing access to the materials.
I'd agree it's probably not something to actively worry about... but one cannot simply say it would never happen. Companies acting as 3rd parties to an IP lose licenses not infrequently, and become unable to continue distributing those materials.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
My comment wasn't to say that it would never happen, it was to say that D&DB is not currently operating outside a valid licensing agreement (at least as much as we can verify as consumers). It is true that the business can fail, or shut down voluntarily, or change in a significant manner, or that the agreement could end for any reason, but that is the same risk for any online or company that uses a license to provide a service (like, as you mention, Amazon, and many others), and is the "standard" level of risk we assume as consumers when making a purchase of their licensed products (and why you should read the EUA for those services).
“that D&DB is not currently operating outside a valid licensing agreement”
To clarify, I was simply curious whether DnDB is operating under a unique contract with WotC.
Their contract seems to be pretty much the same as that of Roll 20 and Fantasy Grounds. Both platforms provide full text of books inside their platform, if you pay for those books.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.