Chronicle Copyright

[Astos]

There's an implication that event coordinators/GMs are permitted to copy, modify, and distribute chronicle sheets, but where is this permission actually granted and how far does it reach? Scenarios mention:

Quote:

No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

But chronicles have trade dress, proper nouns, etc. so would not be directly duplicatable via the Open Game Content exemption.

The Guides to Organized Play mention that it is a GM duty to give a player an accurate chronicle sheet, but I'm uncertain if that counts as permission. And if so, that may not apply to event coordinators.

Modification/copying/distribution seem to go beyond the "You are granted permission to print assets for personal use." from the Community Use Policy.

The same issue exists when a chronicle says something like "Along with this Chronicle sheet, your GM should provide you a copy of the [so-and-so] appendix" (e.g. custom race boon).

[Nefreet]

This was actually included in one of the old Paizo FAQs, because early on in PFS1, printshops would sometimes refuse to print your scenarios or Chronicles.

I'm unsure where that permission exists now, though. After I kept pointing it out to the store manager, they eventually left me alone.

[N N 959]

Astos wrote:

There's an implication that event coordinators/GMs are permitted to copy, modify, and distribute chronicle sheets, but where is this permission actually granted and how far does it reach? Scenarios mention:

One of the tests for copyright infringement is whether the subject material is something that would normally be copy protected. For example, a description of the weather is not something a court would uphold a copyright registration on. There is unrefutable proof that chronicles are intended to be copied and distributed as part of playing the game. However, this is a weak argument and probably wouldn't suffice on its own.

A better defense is that intellectual property rights have to be defended to be retained. Because Paizo knows that people copy and distribute the chronicles, a defendent would argue estoppel by acquiescence.

Quote:

No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Finally, instructions to hand out the chronicles to the players, is "written permission."

Any one of those defenses could stop an infringement claim and together, they might even grant the defendant court costs and result in the plaintiff's attorney getting sanctioned for a frivolous lawsuit.

Now, if a competing game system used the chronicles for their own game, then that would be different. A court would most likely find that none of the above defenses apply.

[JohnF]

The chronicle page is also the only page of the scenario that doesn't carry the regular 'watermark' identifying the Paizo account with which the scenario download is associated.

[FLite]

N N 959 wrote:

Quote:

No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Finally, instructions to hand out the chronicles to the players, is "written permission."

I mean, that is pretty much a case right there.