Legal Question:

[bob the goat]

I have a question for those writers out there. I have been keeping a some notes about funny stories that happened while playing WOW (like the time my hunter Feigned Death, but didn’t move, when the timer ran out I died for real). I was thinking of writing a first person story about a toon going through the game, complete with battle stories, and what was going on inside it’s head.

Would that violate any copyright laws? Would it be considered a parody, hence bypass those laws?

I know many of you have written little stories, but I was thinking of something novel length, using WOW as an infrastructure, but with my insight into motives and reactions.

[Cougarshand]

If you mention WoW directly (or anything they have their little TM after) and make any sort of profit from your storytelling...you may have an issue. Other than that...I wouldn't think so (I deal with legal creative issues and use of company images on a daily basis in my job).

If you're truly worried about it, make a well documented attempt to contact the company and ask them about it.

[Korkskrew]

Just make up your own MMO as the setting. People will like it more that way anyway. The classes will be similar so it should still make sense.

[Raya]

I believe you are free to write any story you want with WoW-based characters and events. As someone else here suggested, if you gain a profit by it, then you are tresspassing on the ownership of the intellectual property. Jeremy at GU Comics has spelled it out very nicely a number of times. His comics have to do with EQ-based characters and events, which is why he cannot sell his comics without the consent of Sony who own that intellectual property.

However, if you just want to entertain friends with no profit accruing to yourself, I don't believe there is any problem.