 November 27, 2007 - 1:20am | Just want to give all menbers a welcome to my project. Even if you have no FGU material, that doesn't mean you can't contribute. I will consider any input I receive here in these forums. Hope to see you here! Grendel T. Troll Registered Linux User #299419 "Nobody remembers what you say. A few might remember what you do, but EVERYONE remembers how you make them feel." ~ Anonymous |
 November 27, 2007 - 5:32am | I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm ( it's a good system), but do you have permission to convert the Space Opera material to Star Frontiers? From prior experience with FGU material, the owner is reluctant to 'release' material. My other concern is that space Opera is being sold online, and therefore copyright is very much in force. I would hate to see this site pulled down because of a mis- understanding. |
 November 27, 2007 - 9:38am | Do you need permission to do fan-related stuff of this nature? I mean, if it's to be for purchase, I agree with you. But fan conversions have been going on all over the net for decades. I've seen Men In Black(TM) converted to Chill system, for goodness sakes. And don't get me started on all the Marvel stuff I've seen converted to Villains & Vigilantes and Gurps Supers. I think as long as you present the material in a positive way and make sure you're giving proper credit for intellectual property rights, and as long as you're not making a cent, then how could this project be seen as anything shy of publicity for both systems? That's the general direction I take with conversion material, and so far so good. 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
November 27, 2007 - 1:54pm | Ok, to clear things up, FGU is a publishing company, not an RPG company.
What that means is they don't develop games; they just publish what authors throw at them. The CEO of FGU ran the company in his garage somewhere in New York State. He is in Arizona, now.
As for ownership for SO's IP, the individual authors need to be concerned, not FGU, as IP rights are still theirs.
If I ever find out how to contact Edward E. Simbalist and the other authors, I will let them know. Grendel T. Troll Registered Linux User #299419 "Nobody remembers what you say. A few might remember what you do, but EVERYONE remembers how you make them feel." ~ Anonymous |
 November 27, 2007 - 3:13pm | If I ever find out how to contact Edward E. Simbalist and the other authors, I will let them know. If you can contact Ed I'd be highly impressed as he died over two years ago. You still HAVE to contact FGU for copyright use as it does indeed hold copyrights to every single one of its titles. (Welcome to the joy that is IP ownership, it's why I just let my lawyers handle it, just like tax laws I'll let the monkeys who really want to deal with it, deal with it.) You even think of using just the name "Space Opera" in the title without contacting them, FGU may just come unglued again as they are quite tenatious about their IP. Besides it's always safe (not to mention polite) and ask them about it's use then to be sorry and end up with a C&D notice from their lawyers. I'd say the same with that "published" Starfrontiersman volume set as well, that can be considered skirting the line to some lawyers. |
November 27, 2007 - 6:27pm | If I ever find out how to contact Edward E. Simbalist and the other authors, I will let them know. If you can contact Ed I'd be highly impressed as he died over two years ago. You still HAVE to contact FGU for copyright use as it does indeed hold copyrights to every single one of its titles. (Welcome to the joy that is IP ownership, it's why I just let my lawyers handle it, just like tax laws I'll let the monkeys who really want to deal with it, deal with it.) You even think of using just the name "Space Opera" in the title without contacting them, FGU may just come unglued again as they are quite tenatious about their IP. This is a complete turn-around from what FGU was saying just a few years ago, when I made my initial inquiries about a project likle this. I guess WotC's OGL concept really shook them up enough to change their minds... Besides it's always safe (not to mention polite) and ask them about it's use then to be sorry and end up with a C&D notice from their lawyers. I'd say the same with that "published" Starfrontiersman volume set as well, that can be considered skirting the line to some lawyers. Well, when I actually start stepping on FGU's toes, then I'll worry. As I stated before: you need FGU's works to use whatever I(we) produce on this project. I will not be plagiarizing or posting FGU's Star Atlas books, for example. I will be posting some alternate text about Terra's history that is my own. You will still have to buy their books to appreciate the work. The stuff here can be used to plug into any Sci-Fi setting, really. My new ship rules will be generic enough but also coincide with SO's space travel concepts (Mainly change the labels on everything and use SF skill system for task resolution). As I said, I'll worry if I have to. But if they want to slam down someone who can, potentially, support their products, I know which foot the gun is aimed at...... Grendel T. Troll Registered Linux User #299419 "Nobody remembers what you say. A few might remember what you do, but EVERYONE remembers how you make them feel." ~ Anonymous |
November 27, 2007 - 7:53pm | I sent the following letter to FGU's primary contact email address: Sirs, This is not an email about an order, but I had difficulty finding any other email address with which to contact your organization. I remember the logo from your company - wow did that bring back memories! I have a web site where people work together collaborating on fan-related material. It doesn't get sold, we just do it for our own games and enjoyment. We mostly deal with an old TSR game called Star Frontiers - you might remember this product. One of the site's members wants to make a conversion guide - with some of his own house rules and back-story changes. He wants to take the races, storyline, setting, and many of his favorite rules from Space Opera and mix & match with what he likes about Star Frontiers. Even though this is just fan material - I thought I'd bounce the concept off you fine folks and make sure you don't have any issues about the conversion. Nothing generated will be sold, and any presentation of FGU's material will be with proper credit and I'll help make sure his conversion helps serve as a form of advertisement for Space Opera as well. Thanks in advance for your quick reply, Bill Logan Referee@StarFrontiersman.com http://www.starfrontiers.us If you have any questions about my wording or reasons behind the letter - please PM me :) 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
November 27, 2007 - 8:10pm | Thanks, Rogue. I couldn't have said it better myself. People like you give me reason to believe that I made the right choice - not only what game system to use, but also the people who support it. Definitely inform me if/when you get a response. I think the site is still trying to rise above merely being a holding company and starting to accept new works. The'll need to post their submission info soon. Looking forward to seeing how my project developes.... Grendel T. Troll Registered Linux User #299419 "Nobody remembers what you say. A few might remember what you do, but EVERYONE remembers how you make them feel." ~ Anonymous |
November 27, 2007 - 8:17pm | I got a rapid response from FGU, shown below: HI Bill, Thanks for the courtesy of your e-mail. We have no objection to anybody mixing things up for their own games, even on the internet. We do, of course, wish to be sure to protect our copyrights and our designers. It sounds like you are going to do a rules and background mix for your internet campaigns and do not plan to sell anything to anybody. I also have to assume (dangerous sometimes) that you will not be actually printing or including on your site any of our rules, maps, diagrams, etc. If you only want to use the background or discuss the races and how they would mix with another game, that is just fine with us. We won't be hunting you down or getting upset, especially as you indicate you will give proper credit. Sincerely, Scott (Scott B. Bizar for FGU) 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
