I am sure this question has been asked, but I cannot find a concise answer.
In the vast majority of campaigns I see, GMs or DMs post links to maps. Some of these maps have been created using MapTools or similar products. Some are hand drawn and scanned in. But many are parts of PDFs from Paizo or other modules/APs. Is it a violation of the copyright to post these to say Google Docs or a related storage site (Imageshack, etc), and to then share them only to the link so that players can view the map. Usually these maps have previously been imported as backgrounds into MapTools and have had sight lines, grids, coordinates, character tokens, monsters, furniture, and other things added, but they still use the original map as the background.
This question came up recently in a discussion with someone who is considering running on of the Paizo APs on this site.
Thank you,
Tirion
The short answer is that if you can see parts of a map that came from a PDF or print publication then it's not OK if you post it somewhere the public can get to it. Maps recreated from scratch are ok.
The long answer is that you should check out the Community Use Policy.
Thanks
IANAL. That said, the law is a very fluid thing, and copyrights only have force to the extent that they are enforced. By its wording, the CUP appears to be aimed at people making products, whether fansites or 3pp supplements. And my understanding is that legally, the lack of enforcement against PbP game DMs amounts to tacit approval of that use. However, I'm sure that sharing a link to the pic outside of the game, with a "hey everyone check out this awesome map!" would be strictly verboten. So just don't do that.
Shorter: Game on! 8)
Not an official answer but:
Just don't distribute.
If you're using the maps to play the game, and you paid your money, then you're using them for their intended purpose.
You shouldn't post them where other people can use them, except in a private scenario like running a VTT for your players.
Not an official answer but:
Just don't distribute.
This is the same rule of thumb I use. I hand out a photo copy to my players is fine. I just don't post it where it could be easy to slip into the general cloud of the internet.
Is it a violation of the copyright to post these to say Google Docs or a related storage site (Imageshack, etc), and to then share them only to the link so that players can view the map.
I am not an attorney. This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.
Technically, yes. What you describe is creating a derivative work; and said derivative work incorporates material that Paizo has the exclusive right-to-copy ("copyright"). Paizo can call their lawyers and begin a lawsuit. Your friend would then need to get a lawyer, show up in court, and explain his/her actions.
Your friend's lawyer would cite Fair Use or Fair Dealing, depending on the jurisdiction of the court. In Fair Use, the following factors are considered:
- the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
- the nature of the copyrighted work;
- the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
- the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
In a nutshell, your friend's lawyer would argue that they were modifying and sharing the map as part of playing a game, that RPG maps are commonly used that purpose, that only a small group of people shared it amongst themselves, that no money changed hands, that nobody intended to engage in commercial activities, and that the market for Paizo's map is still very healthy.
It would then be up to the judge to decide if such use really violated Paizo's exclusive right to copy that map, or if such use qualified under the exception of fair use.
I'm neither lawyer nor judge, but I would bet money that the law would come down on the side of fair use in that case.
Also, bringing a lawsuit against your paying customers for enjoying your products with their friends is a very bad strategy if you want to stay in business.
tl;dr: Yes it is a violation, but it's probably covered under an exception, and Paizo will probably let it slide.
Thanks all - I think that the best option seems to be to make the link purely private. Essentially get the players emails and then only share it to them. Not sure how to do this on Google Docs, but I am pretty sure it can be done. As long as players allow cookies on their computers, they should not have to log in to view the maps.
Thanks all - I think that the best option seems to be to make the link purely private. Essentially get the players emails and then only share it to them. Not sure how to do this on Google Docs, but I am pretty sure it can be done. As long as players allow cookies on their computers, they should not have to log in to view the maps.
In the Share menu in the Doc you want to share, there's the link to the document, which should say "visible only to collaborators", which means only people on the list below. If it says "Public, Visible on the Web" you'll need to change that back to Private.
Most everything you do in GoogleDocs is private to you and your collaborators unless you specify otherwise (as it should be).