What qualifies as Creator Owned?

[thwaak]

Just a quick question about definitions.

I'm currently writing a setting book for Savage Worlds by PEG. Under the agreement, I'm paid a lump sum, and retain all rights to the material, but PEG owns the physical books once printed. In the future, if I do something else with the material for profit, PEG does get a small cut, but otherwise has no say in what I do, or don't do, with it.

Would this qualify as creator owned? Just curious.

Thanks,
-Brent

[Josh Roby]

Technically, Brent, I think this boils down to a poll.  I'd say the material is creator-owned, but perhaps more precisely it's mostly creator owned, since PEG does retain some rights to compensation when it's used.  Out of curiosity, can you reference the original books (and the associated PEG trademarks) in later publications?

[thwaak]

Technically, Brent, I think this boils down to a poll.  I'd say the material is creator-owned, but perhaps more precisely it's mostly creator owned, since PEG does retain some rights to compensation when it's used.  Out of curiosity, can you reference the original books (and the associated PEG trademarks) in later publications?

I don't recall off-hand if I can. I'd have to check the contract, which is at home (I'm at work).

[Blankshield]

Are you allowed to do the same thing again for profit?  How about distributing it for free on PDF three days after the book hits the shelves?  (don't really care about the answers; but the point is that creator owned is a clear-cut "yes" to these sorts of questions.)

My gut says "If there's a contract involved, it's not creator owned", but that's a gut reaction, and (like the man says) it ain't necessarily so.

More broadly speaking, the ownership line is fuzzy; there's stuff that's clearly one (D&D) or the other (Dogs in the Vineyard), so it looks like a sharp break, but when you get right up close, it's fuzzy and wobbles around a bit.

So if you're talking about out in the big world, that's an opinion poll for fuzzy stuff, and it's possible that two different people will give two different answers with the exact same information.  If you mean in terms of the Forge for discussion and stuff, then the same fuzzy line applies, but because Ron is the content moderator here, his is the opinion that counts.  I suggest you PM him if that's what you want to know.

hope that helps,

James

[thwaak]

Are you allowed to do the same thing again for profit?  How about distributing it for free on PDF three days after the book hits the shelves?  (don't really care about the answers; but the point is that creator owned is a clear-cut "yes" to these sorts of questions.)

My gut says "If there's a contract involved, it's not creator owned", but that's a gut reaction, and (like the man says) it ain't necessarily so.

More broadly speaking, the ownership line is fuzzy; there's stuff that's clearly one (D&D) or the other (Dogs in the Vineyard), so it looks like a sharp break, but when you get right up close, it's fuzzy and wobbles around a bit.

So if you're talking about out in the big world, that's an opinion poll for fuzzy stuff, and it's possible that two different people will give two different answers with the exact same information.  If you mean in terms of the Forge for discussion and stuff, then the same fuzzy line applies, but because Ron is the content moderator here, his is the opinion that counts.  I suggest you PM him if that's what you want to know.

hope that helps,

James

All very good points, James.  Actually, I have no desire to bring the game here for discussion, because in my mind, it's not appropriate: Whether it exists in the fuzzy world of creator owned or not...it's certainly not independent. I was just curious about how one would define creator owned.

Thanks for your insight.
-Brent