Re: [Ogf-l] Possible Formation of Project

[HUDarklord]

In a message dated 8/2/03 1:13:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


<<Because you can't read the OGC out of the binaries... not without specialized
technical knowledge.
>>

The point is that the OGC be clearly marked.  If _everything_ is declared OGC then you shouldn't have to be able to read the binaries.

How can the phrase "the entirety of this binary may be freely copied and distributed as OGC under the terms of the OGL" be _anything_ other than 100% clear?

I could make a proprietary word processor.  I'd be the only person in the world who could read the word processing files generated by the software, except for hardcore data analysts who knew how to crack open the binary and decrypt the information I chose to encrypt inside.  I could distribute a resulting word processing document to millions of people.  If it contained the SRD then I might distribute it as 100% OGC, but I might be the only person who would be able to read it.  I would be following the exact terms of the OGL.  The fact that other people can't read it is their problem, not mine.

Theoretically, although nobody may be able to read my binary file, I would be infringing on WotC's copyright if I didn't distribute the document as OGC.  However, once I've marked it as OGC, then it's not important in the slightest that anyone ever be able to read it.

Lee