On Fri, 8 Sep 2000, Ryan S. Dancey wrote:
> From: "Faustus von Goethe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Still waiting for just one valid reason - other than a fetish for
> > rules (;>) why OGL is better for free products than the "online use
> > policy"...
>
> The online use policy is unethical.
>
> It does not require you to pass forward the freedoms you received from
> us to future users of your work; thus, it is an inherently unfair and
> unethical policy.
Yes, but the question was - "is it worse", not "is it
unethical"? :-)
But seriously, calling all fan-based material unethical is
a bit of a stretch -- and isn't likely to win you many points with
fans, either. In general, D&D fan material is expansions rather
than reproduction of TSR/WotC copyrighted material. While fans
often aren't careful about copyright, much of the material isn't
infringement anyway. It does use trademarks, but since they aren't
selling anything it is difficult to show harm via dilution.
In practical terms, do you really have a problem with what
D&D players have been doing for years (i.e. sharing their house
rules, expansions, and so forth)?
- John
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