Maps and copyright

Many of the maps that can be found on Dominating 12 are based on real locations or completely made up. Maps that are based on fiction or games are also very popular, but for these we run into an issue that does not apply to the other types of maps: copyright. These fiction-based maps have been created by someone else that is not you. That means that the [b]names[/b] and [b]geographical features[/b] are protected by [b]copyright[/b] and therefore it is not allowed to create a map based on this. One could argue that creating maps falls under "fair use", but the definitions of this term are quite vague and might also differ per location. As this website might get into problems if copyright is not taken into account, the staff will not allow maps to be created that are based on copyrighted work without explicit permission [i]or[/i] a proof of passivity from the copyright holder (i.e. they don't answer to your request for permission for an extended period of time). [size=14]What to do if you want a map based on copyrighted material?[/size] Ask permission. It is easy as that. Just look up who is the copyright holder and send an e-mail or posted letter where you ask if you can use the material to base a map on. An example letter can be find in the spoiler below, but you are encouraged to write your own. [spoiler]Dear Mrs/Mr, For the website Dominating 12 (www.dominating12.com) we would like to design a map based on {...}. As {...} is protected by copyright, we would like to ask permission to use the names and geographical features from {...} to create a map on which people can play risk. The graphics for the map will be completely original. For some examples we would like to refer to the website. Kind regards, {...}[/spoiler] If the answer is "no", then bad luck. You can always make a map however that is roughly similar to the map you wanted to copy (for example: if you don't get permission to use the Star Wars galaxy, just make up your own galaxy). There are plenty of other things out there you can base your map on. If the answer is positive, then yay! Make sure to save the correspondence you had and provide a staff member with a copy, so we can use it if things go wrong later. You can now start work on the map (or ask someone else to do it for you). If you don't get an answer within a long time (possibly after multiple tries), then discuss with a staff member whether the map can be made or not. We see a lot of suggestions for maps based on copyrighted material on this website. These suggestions will all be denied, because it is just against the law to make maps based on this. If you really want a map being made, then ask for permission. Feel free to check first whether there are more people willing to play on the map (and if you are not making it yourself, check if someone wants to make it for you), but take responsibility in your own hands and don't just drop the suggestion and leave it to other people. Below we will try to keep a list of all current and past permission requests for maps based on copyrighted material, so please let it know if you are trying to get in contact with someone. [b]Tamriel:[/b] Passive (PsymonStark) [b]Westeros:[/b] Permission (Thorpe)

Westeros: Permission-from "Tears"

yes thats the perfect example. thorpe wrote and got permission for westeros, probably one of the most popular maps on the site. its always worth a try to write, and see if they say yes. i wonder who holds the copyright? is anyone here able to write in Japanese? i think pokemons a great idea but im not making that map.

About copyrights. Is it legal to get a poster board map from this site done at Staples for personal use?

All maps, whilst on this site, are officially the property of the site owner, because a disclaimer was agreed to when commencing and completing a map by all authors / artists. However, the authors who created them also have Artistic Rights and can if they wish, publish their maps elsewhere. But, the two go hand in hand, if they publish without this site owner's permission, the map will be removed from use here. Therefore the bottom line is, you will have to ask Fendi's permission and she would have to ask the permission of the author/s (if still in contact). If the two parties agree, then you get permission to publish the map, but with restrictions of use, e.g. not for sale or personal gain.

Okay, thanks.

[quote=Billy64]About copyrights. Is it legal to get a poster board map from this site done at Staples for personal use?[/quote] How is anyone going to know you did it for personal use? Just be smart about it. Don't steal D12 items to use for profit. If it is a cool map, or you want to enhance your live risk game playing, I don't see how anyone would know or could stop you. But don't do it, then post it on Etsy for others to buy, etc.