Can new Marketplace Modules use Compendium Content?

If a GM creates a Marketplace Module to sell.  Can they use Compendium Content, such as from the Monster Manual, in their Module?  If that is allowed - do they need to write a requirement that purchasers own the Monster Manual?  Or does a GM have to rewrite all that content and replace the token with custom art as well? How does that all work? 

The over-simplified version: If you are releasing a 5e compatible product (whether on Roll20 or elsewhere) you have to follow the following guidelines: You must follow the restrictions of the Open Gaming License (OGL) You must include a copy of the OGL as a handout. You may only use the WotC content included in the System Reference Document (SRD). This is equivalent to the content in the basic compendium only and includes no artwork. You may use OGL content from other publishers that has not been marked as product identity by the respective publisher. Any other OGL products used must be listed under the last section of your copy of the OGL. You may only use artwork, audio files, and other resources that you have permission to use and must abide by any licensing requirements. This includes items such as Creative Commons attribution, terms associated with stock art, or paid licensing agreements. To more directly answer your question, no, you may not use MM content. The text of some MM monsters are in the SRD, and you can use that, but the artwork has been licensed by Roll20 for their MM marketplace product. The safest way to make sure you are in compliance is to build/rebuild your product with only the basic compendium active. That way, you are only pulling from content you are allowed to use. Everything else must be original or from a different OGL product (and not part that has been listed as product identity).

Does that mean that authors are unable to list stats, mention or use creatures in a module that aren't in the SRD? 

Michael T said: Does that mean that authors are unable to list stats, mention or use creatures in a module that aren't in the SRD?  Yes. If it’s not in the SRD, it can’t be included or mentioned in your content. 

Wow. That's unexpected. That's like Apple releasing their iPhone but not letting any developers make apps in their app store that access the camera, or GPS device, or use the graphics card. WotC is crippling their own app store of module content that they could be making 30% from just like Apple, Google, Amazon and others have turned into billion dollar businesses. Microsoft made a mistake not getting their app store in shape in time and their phone has never caught up. When or how is WotC ever going to fix this broken part of their platform. 

Michael T said: Wow. That's unexpected. That's like Apple releasing their iPhone but not letting any developers make apps in their app store that access the camera, or GPS device, or use the graphics card. WotC is crippling their own app store of module content that they could be making 30% from just like Apple, Google, Amazon and others have turned into billion dollar businesses. Microsoft made a mistake not getting their app store in shape in time and their phone has never caught up. When or how is WotC ever going to fix this broken part of their platform.  Not exactly. WotC actually has their own app store (the DM's Guild) which specifically allows you to use their copyrighted properties. The trick is, you can only sell through their store. If you want to release any products outside of that ecosystem (say here on Roll20), then you can only use SRD OGL items (or entirely original items created by yourself, of course).

That's great to know. So it sounds like it is a franchisee digital content issue with Roll20 and other digital providers that WotC needs to sort out. Given the exponentially accelerated "digital twinning" that is occurring - and how fast companies that stay analog get disrupted (i.e. think Kodak)- it sounds like their digital strategy is something they will want to sort out soon. Does DMsGuild allow developers to also use art from WotC's content as well - or just the text?

Michael T. That line of questions about DMsGuild should be pursued over in their forums or with them as this topic is moving into the off-topic zone.

The DMsGuild has worked great for tabletops like Fantasy Grounds where they can sell files that will work with the tabletop. Since Roll20 is entirely online however, this business model cripples their ability to tie in with DMsGuild purchases. I'm tempted to suggest that Roll20/DMsGuild implement a thing where you could buy an "access code" on DMsGuild that will give you access to a corresponding Roll20 module, but of course I know that that's probably a very difficult thing to accomplish which involves encryption and user keys and whatnot. Edit: It honestly seems silly that this problem hasn't been worked out when WotC's largest online tabletop is Roll20.....unless of course they plan to turn D&D Beyond into a full-fledged tabletop and compete directly with Roll20.  That seems like a really bad idea though, considering how difficult it is to make virtual tabletops and considering that they have a cooperative company right here....

As the original questions have been answered, and the thread is still heading off-topic, I'll be closing this thread now.