Hey gang,

I'm building a 5th edition adventure which is set in my own world (very bog standard D&D world).   I'm aiming, if possible, to eventually sell the adventure.  I'm wondering about image re-use.   I believe, as this adventure is not set in a Wizards' world it needs to get sold on DriveThruRPG, rather than DMs Guild, but I guess the question remains the same:

Can I use Wizard's artwork (monsters specifically) inside my adventure?

A simple example is that of zombies.   Say there are some in the adventure.  Can I use this picture in the adventure, legally?

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what is legal and what is not!!

Thanks in advance
Blakey

As soonn as you are going to sell something, you need to have the licensed right to use foreign intellectual properties. There are some cases, where you can get that allowance for free, but these are most of the time rare. 

Best approach for this is to assume that you cannot use any images without a contract that says you can, unless you own the images.

PS: by owning I mean, that you own the IP to that image. Buying a WotC publication does not give you ownership. 

Thanks.  Though you’ve not flat out said so, I assume this means your answer is “no”.  😊

No, you can't use that artwork--even if you publish your adventure on DMsGuild--unless that artwork is from one of the Creator Resource art packs that the guild has made available to DMsGuild creators (and I don't believe I recall seeing that particular image in the art packs, but there are a bunch of other zombie images from older official sourcebooks that you CAN use if publishing on the Guild).

Gotcha. Thanks.

Goes off in search of other, free monster art...

First, images aside, you can sell it on dmsguild if it’s 5e...because, while you might be saying it’s  your own world- it’s really your own world, but can be dropped into any D&D setting.  There just aren’t very many adventures out there that you can’t do that with unless you’re taking out magic or saying elves are actually demons or something like that. Just because you make up a town/region doesn’t mean it can’t just be dropped in to pretty much anywhere.

second, like Chris said - IF you’re selling it on dmsguild, they have hundreds of official pieces of art you can use (dmsguild is the only site you can sell on if you use their art). Go to the ‘resources for dmsguild creators’ filter, download all the free stuff and browse through it- some of the art is amazing- some not so much. You might not find the specific piece of art you’re looking for, but you also might find something close enough.

also, if you don’t sell it, you can use whatever you want and some publications just put the link to the image they want in the text.

Quote from HeathSmith >>

First, images aside, you can sell it on dmsguild if it’s 5e...because, while you might be saying it’s  your own world- it’s really your own world, but can be dropped into any D&D setting.  There just aren’t very many adventures out there that you can’t do that with unless you’re taking out magic or saying elves are actually demons or something like that. Just because you make up a town/region doesn’t mean it can’t just be dropped in to pretty much anywhere.

second, like Chris said - IF you’re selling it on dmsguild, they have hundreds of official pieces of art you can use (dmsguild is the only site you can sell on if you use their art). Go to the ‘resources for dmsguild creators’ filter, download all the free stuff and browse through it- some of the art is amazing- some not so much. You might not find the specific piece of art you’re looking for, but you also might find something close enough.

also, if you don’t sell it, you can use whatever you want and some publications just put the link to the image they want in the text.

Ohh, interesting and useful!   It is generic enough to put into any old D&D world I'd say.  I'll check out the art - very handy thank you!