I'm going to try and be as direct and blunt as possible. I would like to build a personal website for expanding the material originally presented in The Savage Tide Adventure Path. If possible, I would hope to gain permission to utilize some of the content and associated artwork for that particular series to enhance that website as necessary. In particular, I would like to utilize some of the materials that are readily available as free content from the various Players' Guide and Online Supplements. Of course, proper credit would be given for any materials allowed wherever possible.

My question, however, is who do I ask permission from? Paizo or WotC? And more importantly, would either one care as long as it wasn't making me any money and not reprinting material that must be purchased (as opposed to being downloaded for free)?

Sorry, I wasn't sure where the best place to post this question would be. Maybe I should ask more directly and privately via e-mail, but I thought it might be of interest to others who are faced with a similar dilemna. (Then again, I might be the only one who doesn't realize the obvious answer!)

Thanks in advance.

My question, however, is who do I ask permission from? Paizo or WotC? And more importantly, would either one care as long as it wasn't making me any money and not reprinting material that must be purchased (as opposed to being downloaded for free)?

IANAL and I'm not with Paizo Archon, but from what I've seen, its Wizards that owns all Dungeon content produced for the magazine lock, stock, and barrel. Unfortunately, not making any money off anothers work that's posted without permission doesn't put you in the right. You may want to look up info regarding the No Electronic Theft Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NET_Act). Another good starting site for copyright questions is http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html. When in doubt, seek out qualified legal counsel.

Back to the subject at hand, good luck getting a response from Wizards. Other fans have tried and either not received any response at all or gotten boilerplate. Maybe one of the Paizo folks can tell you the specific person at Wizards to contact?

Something like you are proposing has been tried before. Go to http://dungeonmagazine.pbwiki.com/FrontPage and poke around. In the wiki's site case, its not so much existing material that's being reprinted, but material that got cut from the adventures for space considerations. I'm not sure as to its legality, but Wizards has not had it taken down--something I appreciate ;)

Correct; Wizards of the Coast owns Savage Tide and all of the published material from Dragon and Dungeon relating to that campaign.

If Paizo owned it, I would have no problem with someone using that material to build a personal website and expanding it... I would ask them to credit where credit is due and provide links back to our website and to not charge money or try to turn a profit on the material. But it's not Paizo owned... so I can't say that for Savage Tide.

You'd have to contact Wizards... and I'm not sure who that contact would be these days. Posting to the Dungeon messageboards over there at their website sounds like a good place to start.

IANAL and I'm not with Paizo Archon, but from what I've seen, its Wizards that owns all Dungeon content produced for the magazine lock, stock, and barrel. Unfortunately, not making any money off anothers work that's posted without permission doesn't put you in the right.<snip>

Thanks for the response, as well as the information. Even though I've come asking for my own personal gain, I'm sure others might be wondering what to do in this situation if it ever came up for them. There's bound to be a number of Shackled City, Age of Worms, and Maure Castle fanatics wanting to do something similar for themselves. Question is, who to turn to now?

I find it interesting because of the current circumstances involved. Here we have a product that was licensed to another company and now pulled back into the parent company's care. But now, the content material of the past is in direct conflict with their forthcoming material, and judging by recent trends in their actions, I'm not so sure they will be willing to go any distance to endorse such requests. Its simply not in their own best interest to do so. But then again, they've never been overly concerned with tiny fansites as long as everything was done tastefully within the context of what they've been trying to present, and given proper credits and links. I'll hit 'em up anyway, just to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'll keep you posted.

If Paizo owned it, I would have no problem with someone using that material to build a personal website and expanding it... I would ask them to credit where credit is due and provide links back to our website and to not charge money or try to turn a profit on the material. But it's not Paizo owned... so I can't say that for Savage Tide.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobs. Even though you do not have the rights to this fabulous creation you helped to concieve, that would have been a very reasonable request for such a generous offer. I believe that this kind of supportive attitude towards potential customers, who are also their fans, can only help to propel Paizo into a stronger, more succesful company than they already are. It is this kind of customer support and friendly atmosphere that has renewed my interest for this hobby that I had almost lost completely over the last year.

Perhaps if I am unable to obtain proper permission (or at least an equally courteous response) from Wizards, then I might have to turn my attentions for something more Pathfinder-oriented. Either way, I really do need to find a way to support this company with more monetary means, but alas, times are tough these days. No dollars for gaming as of late, but if they return, they will not be used for any 4th Edition products. I'd much prefer to spend it here. (The christmas and birthday gift list is going to be unbelievable long this year. Luckily, I can just send everyone the same links.) ;)

Just thought I'd give an update in case anyone was curious.

Posting on the message board proved fruitless, so I started digging around for a more direct contact method. After locating a rather obscure link to e-mail the customer service department (more or less), I received a fairly quick reply sent directly to my e-mail. The message was written and sent by a Customer Service Representative. Here's the gist of it:

I am glad to see that you enjoy our products. Although I realize you are not doing this for profit, I must let you know that Wizards of the Coast is not granting permission to use any of its intellectual property for fan websites. Your website would be considered a fan site. I wish I could tell you that it would be ok, especially if it was just for you and your friends. However, officially I can not say this, and therefore can not grant you permission.

I can't complain how this was handled. It was professional, timely, and courteous. Its their property, and its their right to do with it as they see fit. Enough said.

But I have to wonder. A) Are customer support representatives really authorized to grant permissions for using WotC intellectual property, and B) if so, who usually gets it?

At any rate, having gone through the same process over here previous to going to their site, now I'm starting to make the comparisons. Here, I post a message on the board and get a fast, courteous response from the Editor-in-Chief who makes no qualms about using the materials for a fansite with only a few, reasonable requests if he had the authority to do so. There, I must find the appropriate link to contact a customer support representative and get a fast, courteous response to let me know that the company is not granting permission to use any of its intellectual property for fan websites. Period.

In essence, one company is completely removing itself further from its fanbase (by leaps and bounds, it seems) while the other is focusing on keeping close to theirs. Granted, it's a different set of variables when one is a larger part of an even larger corporation while the other is still a small and personal company, but still... The contrast is a bit more than startling.

...

But I have to wonder. A) Are customer support representatives really authorized to grant permissions for using WotC intellectual property, and B) if so, who usually gets it?
...

I would guess they have a form-response for situations like yours, and a lawyerly response for Paizo, or Green Ronin.

I think Wizards' policy is as follows: while they generally don't grant official permission for fansites, they rarely if ever take legal action to shut down a fansite. For example, the 3.5 conversion of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil has remained up for years.

It's bad PR for Wizards to shut down a fansite, and fansites are generally good for business because they encourage players. However, for legal reasons they can't officially condone it - a company like WotC has to protect its copyrights and trademarks. Unless you're trying to profit from their material or undercut their business somehow, I'd say you're probably safe.