so ive been breaking my brain figuring out the ogc issues...


3.5/d20/OGL


ok I understand the OGL.

I understand how to differentiate between OGC and IP content.

what I'm confused on is how can I use pathfinders OGC in a videogame, which I'm allowed to do as long as I don't claim any connection to trademarked/copyrighted pathfinder or paizo, but wouldn't be "taking money out of the mouth" of Paizo Publishing.

I contacted pathfinder directly and they responded as follows "When it comes to the Pathfinder RPG, our intellectual property generally falls into two categories: Open Game Content (generally game mechanics) and Product Identity (generally setting material, trademarks, artwork, and other non-mechanical stuff).

Anything we've declared as Open Game Content in our products is available for use under the Open Game License; anything we've declared as Product Identity is not available ...Note that the Compatibility License is only applicable to books, electronic books, and freely available websites.  You can still use Open Game Content in a OGL product that's not a book, ebook, or free website, but you can't say it's compatible with the Pathfinder RPG or use trademarks like Pathfinder or Paizo in any way; you may, however, use the non-trademarked term "PFRPG”. ".

so I CAN use anything OGC in my videogame, as its OGL and the OGL says "you can make videogames"(wizards FAQ), but the idea of using their OGC as the basis of my game feels... sleezy to me. I tried to gain access to their IP as a license but they don't extend their IP to videogames.

honestly I guess this is a moral issue more then anything at this point, I respect pathfinder and enjoy their IP and content, it just seems wrong to "rip them off" even though its not in any way doing that in legal respects. I really want to make this game though!!!

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