open game license

[aaron22]

in an attempt to understand the OGL of WotC, are the likenesses of the planes and gods part of the core rules that fall inside the OGL?

and also while classes in the 5th edition are part of this OGL, are the PRCs in 3rd edition part of this?

[Rasael]

The licence says, among other things, that Forgotten Realms materials aren't 'open'.

[aaron22]

ok and while i understand it to mean that a town named "waterdeep" is bad and a town called "waterydeep" would also be bad while a town named "deep water view" would be ok. as long as it didnt hold a bunch a similar unique features that waterdeep does.

but for a god like lolth. she and the other drow gods are considered core gods. available to all. but the particular story of how lolth came to be and the details of going from lesser to greater god are cemented in forgotten realms. so off limits. but does that make lolth off limits? does the inclusion in the FR campaign create a scenario where it is now off limits?

[NeonAvenger]

I don't think you're going to have much luck getting a straight answer.
You are asking a legal question so anyone actually qualified to answer almost certainly won't and anyone not qualified to answer you shouldn't be listening to.

I would suggest contacting someone who's already had to look into these things (e.g. whoever runs d20srd.org) or, if you're looking at doing something professionally, contacting a lawyer that specializes in IP.

[Planehopper]

ok and while i understand it to mean that a town named "waterdeep" is bad and a town called "waterydeep" would also be bad while a town named "deep water view" would be ok. as long as it didnt hold a bunch a similar unique features that waterdeep does.

but for a god like lolth. she and the other drow gods are considered core gods. available to all. but the particular story of how lolth came to be and the details of going from lesser to greater god are cemented in forgotten realms. so off limits. but does that make lolth off limits? does the inclusion in the FR campaign create a scenario where it is now off limits?

Lolth is from Greyhawk originally, if that has any bearing on your research.