[RPG] Is Forgotten Realms geo-location data copyrighted, or free to use

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I am in the process of creating a gis map of Toril, starting from the Faerun Continent. (More details are in this question on GIS.SE: Starting a QGIS project for a fantasy world map from raster images.)

One commenter asked if I could share this on Google Earth; however, I have no idea of the legal restrictions on using this material.

Let's say I create a Faerun map completely from scratch; it would be based on copyrighted material, which will be used only as reference and will not be republished in the final work, but obviously I will put in my maps everything related to mapping. Can I distribute it freely?

For example, I want to place Phandelver on the map, so I'll start gathering everything geo-related from the adventure book, scan it, and retrace it all in QGIS (the geographic information system software I am using), I will not include any of the published maps in the final result.

The final result would be a browsable and zoomable Google-Earth-like map.

In the scope of what I want to do, I think the larger question is: Are Toril, Faerun, and all of the Forgotten Realms geographic information free to use?

Specifically, are the geographic coordinates of mountains, rivers, hills, roads, cities (and the size and shape of the buildings, monuments and roads in them) under copyright?

Best Answer

The short answer is that Forgotten Realms is copyrighted and is not free to use.

The longer answer is that a portion of 5th edition D&D known as the System Reference Document, or SRD, is published and usable under the Open Gaming License, or OGL. You can find all information pertaining to these topics here.

If what you want to use, place names from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in this case, is not contained in the SRD the website above notes you must publish through the Dungeon Masters (DMs) Guild.

Specifically, the site states that if you want to "publish content using the Forgotten Realms" you must use the DMs Guild.

Outside of that, my assumption is that you would have to seek a license with Wizards of the Coast (WoTC).

Assumptions, however, can be incorrect. WotC was kind enough to respond to the OP and inform them that this use case is indeed covered under its Fan Content Policy

...upon review of the description of your project, it looks like your request is covered by our Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy, which you can find here company.wizards.com/fancontentpolicy.