From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Will Hindmarch
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 2:25 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] Thoughts on OGL
<< Under the simplified OGL I could produce a new sci-fi roleplaying
game using
the D20 rules and the innovations made through OGC. My book, however, could
not
contain character creation or experience tables (for example). So, in order
to
play my new game, WotC and I would both have to make a sale. Puts a bit of
pressure on me to write a game worth buying two books for, but that's fine:
the
best products will be the ones to survive and flourish.
Am I reading the OGL correctly? >>
Not quite. The OGL applies to any game released under the OGL. Right now,
that probably means no game at all. I'm unsure of the precise legal status
of the two game products released at GenCon; but they aren't full games,
anyway. And if there's anything else out under OGL, I haven't seen it.
At some point (unless plans change), the D20 System Reference Document will
be released under the OGL. Because it shall be under the OGL, you can
basically derive from it and redistribute it to your heart's content WITHIN
THE TERMS OF THE OGL. You can just print it up and sell it if you want. You
CAN include character creation rules, including redefining reserved terms
and describing the effects of going up levels, etc. OGL does not say
anything about this, because OGL is NOT D&D/D20 specific (though D20 is the
most obvious example of an OGL product-to-be). What you can NOT do, per the
OGL, is use the D20 trademark, the D&D trademark, or any other Wizards
trademark to market or promote your work. I suspect you could not even
mention that these ARE the D20 rules, other than properly listing your
sources in the copyright notice. The terms of Section 7 make it clear that
you cannot use another's trademarks except under separate license.
The D20 System Trademark License, then, is that separate license (currently
in draft form, of course). It describes the specific terms under which
Wizards of the Coast agress to let you use their trademarks under very
limited terms. First, it prohibits you from describing the process of
creating a character or of advancing in level. Second, it prohibits you from
redefining a list (not yet final) of restricted terms. In return, it permits
the use of D&D trademarks in ONLY one fashion: "Requires the use of the
Dungeons & Dragons(R) Player's Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards
of the Coast(R)." It permits the use of the D20 trademark in your labelling
and promotion. There are other restrictions and privileges, but these are
the biggies.
So if you think the value is in the RULES, you can build your new game
compatible with D20, and even include the character creation rules. You
don't have to make a game so valuable as to encourage people to buy two
books. But if you think there is marketing value in the D20 logo as well,
then you have to play by the more restrictive rules.
Martin
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