Is fan fiction in the form of videos on YouTube permitted?

[KoobTheProud]

I've been thinking about a DDO story that I'd like to tell. The story would be a series focused on a central character against the backdrop of a main DDO theme in the Forgotten Realms. I envision using the DDO client to play out various scenes and then editing them to make the storyline coherent. I have several episodes in mind at this point along a story arc that might stretch for most of the life of the protagonist. The content would be entirely safe for work and likely fit for 10+ with graphic violence being the only limiter.

The question is whether the content I produce would be legal to put up on YouTube?

There would likely be other editing involved aside from just splicing together segments from various quest environments. I would be doing voice-overs for the characters and likely adding a self-created score.

Obviously all of this represents a lot of work and before I go beyond the scripting I need to know that the content I produce would be legal for display on YouTube.

Any help would be appreciated.

[J1NG]

I'm fairly certain there's no issues from Youtube, I doubt SSG will give you any trouble either, as it's a fan work, and not theirs, so any trouble is squarely on your shoulders not theirs, whilst they get any and all free advertising from it.

No, the most likely source of trouble will be from any considered to be Copyrighted or Trademarked material that you (are seen/considered to have) use(d). So, as long as you stay away from that, you should be safe to go with producing this fan work.

Just make sure it's clearly labelled as Non-Official, or Fan Work.

J1NG

[Arkat]

Yeah, and don't try to monetize it, either.

SSG, WotC, etc. might want to take a cut.

[NightHiker]

Also, if you foresee any sort of financial compensation for your work I would pay much attention to the current discussion regarding the new OGL WotC wants to enforce on third parties, as you'd be using portions of their IP, before commiting significant resources into it.

If you do not intend to make any money out of it you'll probably be fine, though.

Cheers,
NH

[Captain_Wizbang]

Also, if you foresee any sort of financial compensation for your work I would pay much attention to the current discussion regarding the new OGL WotC wants to enforce on third parties, as you'd be using portions of their IP, before commiting significant resources into it.

If you do not intend to make any money out of it you'll probably be fine, though.

Cheers,
NH

https://www.cbr.com/dnd-open-gaming-...ct-ttrpg-wotc/

[axel15810]

I've been thinking about a DDO story that I'd like to tell. The story would be a series focused on a central character against the backdrop of a main DDO theme in the Forgotten Realms. I envision using the DDO client to play out various scenes and then editing them to make the storyline coherent. I have several episodes in mind at this point along a story arc that might stretch for most of the life of the protagonist. The content would be entirely safe for work and likely fit for 10+ with graphic violence being the only limiter.

The question is whether the content I produce would be legal to put up on YouTube?

There would likely be other editing involved aside from just splicing together segments from various quest environments. I would be doing voice-overs for the characters and likely adding a self-created score.

Obviously all of this represents a lot of work and before I go beyond the scripting I need to know that the content I produce would be legal for display on YouTube.

Any help would be appreciated.

As someone who has made similar DDO fan fiction videos it is totally fine to make this and to monetize it. In my experience SSG encourages people to make DDO content, they don't at all mind...quite the opposite actually. They want people to make DDO content on youtube. They don't mind you using game music or to my knowledge any other DDO game asset whether that is game footage, art, etc.

Also I've made hundreds of DDO videos using a wide variety of DDO game footage, music and other DDO game assets and I have never once had a video claimed, demonetized, etc. by any company.

[C-Dog]

As someone who has made similar DDO fan fiction videos it is totally fine to make this...

Confirmed.

Don't have the links, but I've seen several clever edits in one creative form or another, all good by the powers-that-be.

[J1NG]

I think for OP's ambition though, the danger is treading onto the Forgotten Realms portion. The DDO portion of Forgotten Realms probably would be fine as that's licensed work to DDO. And so referencing anything inside DDO that is related to Forgotten Realms should also be fine, even if you have the script just be about some adventurers who just arrived there (as per the DDO story of it - Battle of Eveningstar, Stormhorns, etc).

But if the fiction/script starts to go to anything unoffical from what is in DDO (Baldur's Gate for example, or traversing to Baldur's Gate), there might be issues from Hasbro/Wizards at that point. As they're really protective over that setting and since DDO doesn't have those areas you won't be covered by it being DDO material. If possible, I'd move the setting over to Eberron instead. Since you're more likely to have leeway with what and where your script can go in that setting. But that's just my view of it.

J1NG

[Oxarhamar]

Yeah, and don't try to monetize it, either.

SSG, WotC, etc. might want to take a cut.

This is highly doubtful have anything to back up that claim?

[LightBear]

This is highly doubtful have anything to back up that claim?

Not following all the drama about ogl 1.1?

[J1NG]

This is highly doubtful have anything to back up that claim?

I think what they meant is, through Youtube, they (SSG, Wizards/Hasbro, etc) have every legal right to take over monetisation of your video if they make a Copyright claim over it. This has happened numerous times for uploaders on Youtube. (If your video is super popular, say 1Billion + views, even if you didn't monetise it, Hasbro may make an attempt on it. But if you didn't monetise it, Hasbro will look good and hard then at whether the PR disaster from that would be a good idea or not. Although lately that's not really a thing for them, so who knows?)

This is why I said it may be easier to move the setting of their fanfiction over to Eberron, since that's mostly a DDO (almost exclusive) setting. Forgotten Realms is more murky, especially with how Hasbro has been looking at things and how protective they are of the FR setting. Yes, visuals from inside DDO for Forgotten Realms is protected by being Licensed to DDO and thus Hasbro likely won't do anything and SSG wouldn't bat an eyelash. But as the example I gave, even something like mentioning Baldur's Gate or the pathways to there, might drop you into a grey zone that you won't be protected from such action from Wizards/Hasbro.

And if you're (the OP) OK with constantly checking everything all the time to make sure you don't fall foul of something, then by all means go for it. But there's limited FR stuff inside DDO for now too, which makes it hard to do a decent amount of content. So that's why I suggested the Eberron setting instead that can expand out into the MotU campaign and stuff around it.

Anyway, can't wait to see other players content.

J1NG

[Oxarhamar]

Not following all the drama about ogl 1.1?

I am thou I don’t really think that will apply to DDO

If it did then say goodbye to streamers

[NightHiker]

I am thou I don’t really think that will apply to DDO

If it did then say goodbye to streamers

Looks to me the way it's written in the leaked document it would technically apply, because it emcompasses original WotC IPs - it doesn't matter if it's "second hand", so to speak. However, I believe the cut where they'll demand a percentage of the revenue is at 750k, so any independent fan fiction creators should be fine even if they get some money out of ad impressions or things like that. That would mostly affect the biggest streamers and companies that publish D&D based material.

It should be said though this is all speculation since we can't be sure the leaked document is the real, final print, nor that it will stay that way if it is, considering all the uproar it's generated.

Cheers,
NH

[axel15810]

OP, please make your video. Don't be deterred.

I am not up to date on the happenings with WotC others mentioned here but in general companies leave youtubers alone. Unless you have 1,000+ youtube subs your content isn't eligible for monetization anyway so it doesn't matter if it's claimed. And even if it is eligible, in my experience it is very very unlikely to be claimed. And even if it was, youtube monetization hardly amounts to more than pocket change anyway unless you are constantly putting out videos with 25k+ views so who cares.

In addition to what I mentioned above in my other post I'd also add that I've used WotC art from the 5e books in many of my videos in the past and have never once had any of those videos claimed.

[Oxarhamar]

Looks to me the way it's written in the leaked document it would technically apply, because it emcompasses original WotC IPs - it doesn't matter if it's "second hand", so to speak. However, I believe the cut where they'll demand a percentage of the revenue is at 750k, so any independent fan fiction creators should be fine even if they get some money out of ad impressions or things like that. That would mostly affect the biggest streamers and companies that publish D&D based material.

It should be said though this is all speculation since we can't be sure the leaked document is the real, final print, nor that it will stay that way if it is, considering all the uproar it's generated.

Cheers,
NH

I don’t see it being an issue but I would agree to stay in DDOverse & not to wander

[Cordovan]

I don't see an issue with what the OP is proposing, sounds like relatively typical content creation covered under Daybreak Games' Terms of Service: https://www.daybreakgames.com/terms-of-service

This is a particularly relevant part:

USER GENERATED CONTENT

Daybreak encourages end users to increase their engagement with the Daybreak Games and share their gaming experiences by creating game-related videos, fan fiction and artwork, Fan Sites (as hereinafter defined) and Apps (as hereinafter defined) for others to view, use and enjoy (collectively, “User Generated Content” or “UGC”). Your creation and use of UGC must comply with the following guidelines. For purposes of clarity, UGC does not include any virtual items that you create for use within any Daybreak Game(s). Virtual items submitted to Daybreak through the Player Studio program are not governed by this Section 14. Rather, they are governed by Section 15 of these Terms of Service.

14.1. Videos. Daybreak encourages end users to create videos for their favorite Daybreak Games and share them with others through Fan Sites and video sharing sites like Twitch and YouTube. Videos can include Daybreak game content such as screenshots and game play footage, and can be edited anyway you like as long as you comply with the Daybreak Terms of Service. Videos that contain our game content only may be used for non-commercial purposes and may not be licensed or sold. Subject to your compliance with the Daybreak Terms of Service, you may monetize your videos through “partner programs” on sites like Twitch and YouTube.
14.2. Fan Fiction and Artwork. We enjoy the creativity of our end users and encourage them to create fan fiction and artwork such as short stories and drawings that are based on and/or inspired by Daybreak Game Assets like NPCs, deities, monsters, characters, cities, dungeons, etc. Fan fiction and artwork that contains or is based on Daybreak Game Assets only may be used for non-commercial purposes and may not be licensed or sold. We encourage end users to share fan fiction and artwork through Fan Sites, social media, and game forums.

[Zander108]

I hope you move forward with this idea. I too have been thinking of doing something similar. While likely not needed, I was going to turn off floaty names and edit out NPC dialogue to both work with my own story ideas and avoid any copyright issues. While Daybreak may encourage fanfic (thanks Cordo for that info) not everyone seeks out what is allowed before dropping a banhammer. YouTube would likely not care but I overthink things.

Have fun with whatever you do in the end, and make something you'd want to watch. I'm sure many of us here would also enjoy seeing it too.

[Saekee]

sounds like a cool idea