Ryan,
Before suggesting clarifications to the text, I'd like to first offer up
some reasons to change this clause. Through White Wolf's translation
connections, both Necromancer and Sword & Sorcery Studio products stand a
good chance of being translated into a half dozen languages, so this issue
is important to me, to Clark, and will be to all d20 STL publishers who grow
a business and produce quality product that attracts attention in overseas
markets.
If a translated version of Creature Collection (CC) comes out in German for
example, it would seem logical that the permitted sections of text like:
"requires the use of ...." would also get translated into German. Even the
legal lines would get translated into German (though not the trademark words
themselves like "Dungeons & Dragons" although even these could be translated
to match each language's official translation of the D&D name).
If this text cannot be modified from English, then we're going to have a
German edition of CC with a host of German translated backcover text
punctuated by the English words "Requires the use of...".
Seems like this is not in the best interest of the d20STL publishers,
translators or WOTC. Wouldn't WOTC want the message of these words to get
through to anyone looking at the d20STL book? If so, then it should get
translated like rest of the book.
I assume that D&D 3rd translations are well on their way in every major
language. The same market force that will drive more English PHB sales when
English d20 STL products sell would seem to drive German PHB sales when a
German d20 STL product sells, if people can read and understand that that
need to buy the PHB to use this German CC.
I would first advocate allowing "literal translations" of the permitted
texts be used in books where the majority of the content is also in that
language.
If that's too loose, then I would volunteer to get you (say within a week)
translations of the permitted text in all the major Western languages (and
maybe Japanese) for explicit inclusion in the d20 STL Guide. E.g.
For German Language Products the permitted text will read:
"Requires the use blah blah blah [translated into German]
I know I don't have pour the "it's a global marketplace" cliches on you, and
I hope there's a way that this Guide can be easily modified to take a global
view on d20 STL publishing.
Regards,
Steve
> From: "Ryan S. Dancey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 20:20:52 -0800
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: [ogf-d20-l] Translation Clause in d20 STL Guide
>
> From: "Steve Wieck" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>
>> First - the new draft looks clean and usuable to me upon first pass.
>
> Yay!
>
>> ------------------
>> Translation Rights:
>>
>> You may not translate into a non-English language or alphabet for
>> human-readable display any of the permitted sections of text described in
>> this document, and you may not translate the D20 System Trademark logo.
>> ---------------------
>>
>> My confusion lies with what is the "permitted sections of text". I
>> understand not wanting anyone to "translate" the logo, but I seem to have
>> completely missed what the "permitted sections of text" refers to.
>
> The bits about Wizards owning the trademark to the D20 System logo, and the
> bits about using the Dungeons & Dragons book. Any suggestions as to how to
> make this clearer?
>
>> Second point of confusion, is... did I miss it completely or are d20STL
>> users no longer required to print a copy of the STL (and/or Guide) in
> every
>> d20 logo'd product?
>
> Yup - that's the plan.
>
> I think it will be much better to just reference the license and not include
> a copy. Unlike the Open Game Content, use of the Trademark is not linked to
> anything other than a logo, so the need to have the terms of the license
> travel with the content is greatly reduced.
>
> Ryan
>
>
>
