Questions about Creating a Pathfinder Website (Fan Site / Tool)

[Pixii]

Hello! I am totally new to Pathfinder and I am already hooked!
(I also don't know where to put this thread, since I'm also new to this forum! Feel free to move it, if its in the wrong section)

I started making an offline website to help me GM my first game.
In the future, I would like to publish the website so that others can use it, but I was wondering if I'm even allowed to do that?

Would it violate some sort of copyright laws?

I noticed there is a program called Hero Lab that people can download for free, or pay ~$30 for a better version of the program. It's my understanding that this program has ALL of the information from the Paizo Pathfinder series (as well as some other games).

I have purchased the Core Rulebook and Rise of the Runelords before I found this website: http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/
which has ALL of the information for free online. (Although, I'm one of those people that really just loves hardback books, so I didn't mind paying for it)

So my question is, am I allowed to use this information on my website, much like Hero Lab has done with their program? I tried to email Support, but I didn't receive a response.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!
- Pixii

[CBDunkerson]

See the Community Use Policy.

[Pixii]

Thanks for that!

So I'm wondering then, after reading most of that, how are the Hero Lab creators able to charge for their program? Is it because it's a separate program and not a website?

[Cpt_kirstov]

Herolab pays paizo licensing fees, and are under a private license, not under the community use policy.

[Steve Geddes]

Pixii wrote:

Thanks for that!

So I'm wondering then, after reading most of that, how are the Hero Lab creators able to charge for their program? Is it because it's a separate program and not a website?

The community use policy is for fan-made content - you can't be 'in the publishing business' nor can you charge any money for what you distribute.

For professional publishers, they can either obtain a specific license (as Cpt_kirstov alluded to), or many choose to use the Pathfinder Compatibility License, in tandem with the Open Game License to produce material for sale.

It's worth noting that only the Community Use Policy allows use of proper names and other IP. The second route allows you to use material which Paizo have declared to be "open content". This doesn't include things like Sandpoint, but does include things like the alchemist class (there's an extensive list of allowable reference material, but you have to be careful to check each book you plan to cite material from as some of them will contain both open content and "closed content").

[Redrazors]

If someone stuck to the Open Game License material, are they allowed to make money from their app/website, from advertising revenue or from charging for an app?

Is that how a site like D20pfsrd.com is able to have adverts on their site?

Thanks.

[Liz Courts]

Redrazors wrote:

If someone stuck to the Open Game License material, are they allowed to make money from their app/website, from advertising revenue or from charging for an app?

Is that how a site like D20pfsrd.com is able to have adverts on their site?

Thanks.

d20pfsrd.com operates under the Pathfinder Compatibility License, which has a clause that prevents them from charging access to their site (but not from earning money through advertising venue). Open Game License and software and apps and charging for them are in a grey limbo area.