I loved the Codex by AeronDrake, went to download the latest version today (last one I got had integrated Giant Battles), saw it got DMCA'd. This makes no sense to me. Its their property yes, but he is not claiming it as his own work, he is not selling it for money, hes literally just compiling free, public info that you can still access for free into one handy pdf for people to use in their games.
From my knowledge, there is no legal precedent that Wizards has to issue a DMCA, since he is again, not making money off of things that are released for free. The email response that he got from the Wizards rep seems canned as well. Could anyone with more legal knowledge, or someone from Wizards if they lurk on these forums, please explain to me the logic behind this? He was doing all us RP'ers a wonderful service.
(Also if anyone happens to have the latest 1.5 version of the Codex in their possession if they could PM it to me I would really appreciate it.)
I loved the Codex by AeronDrake, went to download the latest version today (last one I got had integrated Giant Battles), saw it got DMCA'd. This makes no sense to me. Its their property yes, but he is not claiming it as his own work, he is not selling it for money, hes literally just compiling free, public info that you can still access for free into one handy pdf for people to use in their games.
From my knowledge, there is no legal precedent that Wizards has to issue a DMCA, since he is again, not making money off of things that are released for free. The email response that he got from the Wizards rep seems canned as well. Could anyone with more legal knowledge, or someone from Wizards if they lurk on these forums, please explain to me the logic behind this? He was doing all us RP'ers a wonderful service.
(Also if anyone happens to have the latest 1.5 version of the Codex in their possession if they could PM it to me I would really appreciate it.)
I mean, regardless, it is Wizards' intellectual property. Money or no money, when you take someone else's intellectual content and attempt to do... well anything with it, they have every right to issue a DMCA if they feel it violates their IP.
My best guess honestly, (and I haven't seen the codex myself), is that he did in WoTC style with it looking close enough to an actual product that Wizards' was afraid that people might think its' actual content created (and therefore condoned) by WoTC itself, meaning any mistakes or misrepresentations can damage the DnD brand in general.
I was annoyed when they took it down as well. I wish I had gotten 1.5 before it fell apart, That being said I am still grateful to have the content just nothing I can print now to look like an official book.
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Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination. I will protect those who cannot protect themselves, I will protect even those I hate so long as it is right.
This makes no sense to me. Its their property yes, but he is not claiming it as his own work, he is not selling it for money, hes literally just compiling free, public info that you can still access for free into one handy pdf for people to use in their games.
It's not that simple.
From my knowledge, there is no legal precedent that Wizards has to issue a DMCA, since he is again, not making money off of things that are released for free. The email response that he got from the Wizards rep seems canned as well. Could anyone with more legal knowledge, or someone from Wizards if they lurk on these forums, please explain to me the logic behind this?
Not that I'm sure of any trademarked names or phrases being used, but that also could be an issue in WotC asking for the compilation to be taken down, since trademark laws are just strange enough to basically require the trademark holder to be insanely strict about enforcing them, because failing to take action against someone using your trademark can result in loosing the claim to said trademark.
Or, it could be as simple as "Hey, could you please not post our articles without our permission?" because web traffic is in itself a kind of currency, and maybe WotC would like that web traffic coming to their website directly, or being linked to it at least, rather than allowing that web traffic to go elsewhere entirely.
I want to preface this by saying that I have no inside information, nor do I claim to know anything about law. This is purely speculation and that on it's own is probably reason enough for me to not say anything in the first place.
That being said, if WotC plans on releasing their own book version of UA in the future then it makes complete sense for them to issue a DMCA. I would honestly prefer and pay for an official book than something made by a fan. No offense to the guy that put that content together of course. I'm sure it was great but that's all the more reason for WotC to step in and put a stop to it.
I'm going to lock this thread from further discussion if only to avoid a touchy subject that is an obvious violation of the site's Rules and Guidelines.
I loved the Codex by AeronDrake, went to download the latest version today (last one I got had integrated Giant Battles), saw it got DMCA'd. This makes no sense to me. Its their property yes, but he is not claiming it as his own work, he is not selling it for money, hes literally just compiling free, public info that you can still access for free into one handy pdf for people to use in their games.
From my knowledge, there is no legal precedent that Wizards has to issue a DMCA, since he is again, not making money off of things that are released for free. The email response that he got from the Wizards rep seems canned as well. Could anyone with more legal knowledge, or someone from Wizards if they lurk on these forums, please explain to me the logic behind this? He was doing all us RP'ers a wonderful service.
(Also if anyone happens to have the latest 1.5 version of the Codex in their possession if they could PM it to me I would really appreciate it.)
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D&D Beyond StaffI was annoyed when they took it down as well. I wish I had gotten 1.5 before it fell apart, That being said I am still grateful to have the content just nothing I can print now to look like an official book.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination. I will protect those who cannot protect themselves, I will protect even those I hate so long as it is right.
This makes no sense to me. Its their property yes, but he is not claiming it as his own work, he is not selling it for money, hes literally just compiling free, public info that you can still access for free into one handy pdf for people to use in their games.
It's not that simple.
From my knowledge, there is no legal precedent that Wizards has to issue a DMCA, since he is again, not making money off of things that are released for free. The email response that he got from the Wizards rep seems canned as well. Could anyone with more legal knowledge, or someone from Wizards if they lurk on these forums, please explain to me the logic behind this?
©2017 Wizards of the Coast LLC. That's all there is to it. The expanded version of that copyright notice in the UA releases can be found in the front of all the published merchandise. "This material is protected under the copyright laws or the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast." Thus, to compile all the UA releases into a new product, especially if you're going to take additional formatting steps to make it resemble official material, will run you afoul of American copyright laws. And those can be a bit tricky, especially if a company runs across such a violation and chooses not to take action about it, thus not "defending" the copyright. Really tricky.
(Also if anyone happens to have the latest 1.5 version of the Codex in their possession if they could PM it to me I would really appreciate it.)
Considering it's something that WotC lawyers asked to have taken down, asking for it here is kinda gauche, man. Let's not be that guy.
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Not that I'm sure of any trademarked names or phrases being used, but that also could be an issue in WotC asking for the compilation to be taken down, since trademark laws are just strange enough to basically require the trademark holder to be insanely strict about enforcing them, because failing to take action against someone using your trademark can result in loosing the claim to said trademark.
Or, it could be as simple as "Hey, could you please not post our articles without our permission?" because web traffic is in itself a kind of currency, and maybe WotC would like that web traffic coming to their website directly, or being linked to it at least, rather than allowing that web traffic to go elsewhere entirely.
I want to preface this by saying that I have no inside information, nor do I claim to know anything about law. This is purely speculation and that on it's own is probably reason enough for me to not say anything in the first place.
That being said, if WotC plans on releasing their own book version of UA in the future then it makes complete sense for them to issue a DMCA. I would honestly prefer and pay for an official book than something made by a fan. No offense to the guy that put that content together of course. I'm sure it was great but that's all the more reason for WotC to step in and put a stop to it.
http://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/1950-d-d-5e-in-pdf-format?comment=13
⬐ If you thought I added value to the conversation, please let me know!
I'm going to lock this thread from further discussion if only to avoid a touchy subject that is an obvious violation of the site's Rules and Guidelines.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/news-announcements/2-site-rules-guidelines
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