Step 1: Read HERE
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Thanks for the answer, but... that's the problem. That's a contract. And "I fear the contracts a lot". This part scares me specially:
14. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Paizo harmless from any claims, demands or suits brought with respect to any products produced by or for you.
That part just means that anything you write, Paizo can't be liable. Say for example you decide you write something like the Book of Erotic Fantasy and end up getting sued and/or fined - well, that clause basically says you're agreeing to take the full brunt of that hit and can't enjoin Paizo as a party to the suit.
(While I am a practicing attorney in the United States, I don't in any way practice contract law, so if at the end of the day, you *are* afraid of legal ramifications, go ahead and hire your own lawyer.)
That part just means that anything you write, Paizo can't be liable. Say for example you decide you write something like the Book of Erotic Fantasy and end up getting sued and/or fined - well, that clause basically says you're agreeing to take the full brunt of that hit and can't enjoin Paizo as a party to the suit.
(While I am a practicing attorney in the United States, I don't in any way practice contract law, so if at the end of the day, you *are* afraid of legal ramifications, go ahead and hire your own lawyer.)
Essentially boiling down to, if someone gets mad at you for whatever you write, you can't point at Paizo and say "they told me I could/ They told me to!"
Chief Technical Officer
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Thanks for the answer, but... that's the problem. That's a contract.
Well, to do it legally, you're probably going to need to understand at least two contracts—the Compatibility License (linked above) and the OGL (included in every OGL product). If you aren't willing to gain an understanding of those two licenses—or at least get the advice of a qualified individual who can help you use them—you probably shouldn't be publishing anything.
Keep in mind that both of these licenses are designed to make doing what you want to do possible, while protecting the interests of the owners of the intellectual properties you want to use. Both licenses exist to help you, not to harm you—but you *do* have to make an effort.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Then... what's the difference between this license and the Wizards's GSL?
The GSL is a license that allows publishers to make products that are compatible with 4th Edition D&D. Are confusing it with the OGL?
The OGL is a license that allows publishers to make products that are compatible with (and may include certain parts of) other products published under the OGL (such as the core 3.5 SRD and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game).
The OGL, though, includes a clause that prohibits you from indicating compatibility using trademarks owned by other companies—trademarks such as "Dungeons & Dragons" or "Pathfinder"—without having a separate license to do so.
The Pathfinder Compatibility License covers that—it's a separate license that essentially allows you to say that your own OGL product is compatible with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. It doesn't stand alone—it must be used in conjunction with the OGL.
Ravenath, The best advice I can give you is talk to a lawyer. It sounds like you are not familiar with reading a contract. Let a professional handle it. While you are at it, let the lawyer handle the paperwork for starting the business, get you set up with a Tax ID number from the IRS, tell you how the OGL/Pathfinder license works in easy to understand terms, and explain to you what you can and cannot do with someone else's material.
There are alot of little things that if not done properly can get you in hot water (and be costly).
An alternative would be to work with an existing publisher. You'd get authors credit, paid for your work, and you don't have to worry about the legal end of the whole deal.
Just pointing out your options.
Then... what's the difference between this license and the Wizards's GSL?
The GSL is bad for one reason: it can end at any time without prior notice. Like if Wizards decides to go Essentials and drop 4E, the GSL might end ... today. Or Tomorrow. So if you have a 256 page book that is about to be published that you spent over $3000 on in art, writers fees and printing, you're screwed.
The Pathfinder License is the 2nd half of a 2 part license. The first part is the OGL. The OGL never ends (literally*). The Pathfinder License will end at some point (but no one is expecting that to be anytime in the forseeable future), but when that happens you can still publish that same 256 page book with a sticker on the front and back Pathfinder Logos. You might not make as much money off the book (since it doesn't have the Pathfinder Logo on it anymore) but you will probably be able to recoup your expenses.
*If in the year 8079 your great-great-great-...-great grandchildren want to send out thought waves based on the Pathfinder RPG (but not claim PFRPG compatability), they will be able to as long as they remember to also transmit a hypermacro containing a copy of the OGL with an updated section 15.
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So...could you have on the back page in bright red letters:
*Compatible with the oldest fantasy role playing game and the new one made by some sort of company whose name means to play* or words to that effect, implying but not naming? I only ask as in all the years of playing I know i got some decent stuff knocking around
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Chief Technical Officer
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If you seek some professional advice, and ensure that you follow the rules, then you get lots of benefit and virtually no risk.
I think it's *far* riskier trying to be sneaky about getting around the licenses without professional advice.
There are dozens and dozens of people using the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License, and hundreds more have used the OGL. Nobody wants to take anybody else to court here, and if you just take the effort to understand and follow the rules of the licenses, you won't have to worry about that. That's actually why they exist in the first place.
If you seek some professional advice, and ensure that you follow the rules, then you get lots of benefit and virtually no risk.
I think it's *far* riskier trying to be sneaky about getting around the licenses without professional advice.
There are dozens and dozens of people using the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License, and hundreds more have used the OGL. Nobody wants to take anybody else to court here, and if you just take the effort to understand and follow the rules of the licenses, you won't have to worry about that. That's actually why they exist in the first place.
QfT. The man hit the nail on the head.
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Ok. You are totally right.
I'll take this documents at a lawyer and tell him what I want to do.
But... there is another question regarding to this... I'm preparing a podcast and a website about roleplaying. I'll sell my material in that page, so I can't use the community license. But, I want to talk about the news in Paizo products in the website and the podcast. Is there any problem about that?
But... there is another question regarding to this... I'm preparing a podcast and a website about roleplaying. I'll sell my material in that page, so I can't use the community license. But, I want to talk about the news in Paizo products in the website and the podcast. Is there any problem about that?
Ravenath, you seem very eager to avoid ending up in court, yet determined to get someone to give you legal advice that might get him/her sued. If you have legal questions, talk to a lawyer, or barrister, or attorney, or litigation trickster, or whatever they're called where you're from.
No one with any sense is going to give you a definite "yes" or "no", and there's no reason for you to trust anyone on the internet who did.
Talk. To. A. Lawyer.
