I was wondering if the following would be permissable:
Let's say I own a Scenario in English but at some point I want to GM it for a group in my Non-English native language. If I had access to the same Scenario in that other language which I technically have not purchased, would it still be acceptable to run it using that as my resource instead, given that I do own the English original?
Thanks!
|
Short version: It would be really nice for Paizo to explicitly OK this, especially since they don't publish the scenarios in a language other than English.
Longer version: If you have purchased the original and there is a single copy of the translation available that you can borrow, then you are not violating U.S. copyright law. It doesn't matter if the translation is digital or hardcopy, the key is that it cannot be used by more than one person at a time. If multiple copies of the translation are available, or if it is available for download (or similar digital copying), then it is infringing on the copyright. Note that the link below is mainly focused on whether or not a translation created for profit can be a separately copyrighted work, but the key takeaway for your question is that the rights of the original owner are still intact regardless of whether or not the translator charges a fee.
https://copyright.uslegal.com/enumerated-categories-of-copyrightable-works/ translation/
So Paizo could say "yes, if you purchased the original you can use any translation." But that has the potential to open a crack in copyright enforcement so I doubt they would.
Short version: It would be really nice for Paizo to explicitly OK this, especially since they don't publish the scenarios in a language other than English.
Longer version: If you have purchased the original and there is a single copy of the translation available that you can borrow, then you are not violating U.S. copyright law. It doesn't matter if the translation is digital or hardcopy, the key is that it cannot be used by more than one person at a time. If multiple copies of the translation are available, or if it is available for download (or similar digital copying), then it is infringing on the copyright. Note that the link below is mainly focused on whether or not a translation created for profit can be a separately copyrighted work, but the key takeaway for your question is that the rights of the original owner are still intact regardless of whether or not the translator charges a fee.
https://copyright.uslegal.com/enumerated-categories-of-copyrightable-works/ translation/
So Paizo could say "yes, if you purchased the original you can use any translation." But that has the potential to open a crack in copyright enforcement so I doubt they would.
Thank you, you've made it very clear to me.