Faustus von Goethe wrote:
> The notion that Ryan (as owner of the FOUNDATION) would NOT be influenced by
> these considerations is, well, ... silly.
I agree. But I also think that this is the strongest statement you can
reasonably make: Ryan's position toward the function of the OGF is probably
impacted by his position with WotC. I think you can also say that the OGF would
not exist without his position at WotC. And I don't think that attempting to
distance the OGF from WotC is in any way deceptive. In fact, the opposite is
true. It is the only choice that lends any plausibility to the OGF as a valid
organization. The further it becomes distant from WotC the better. Give it a
little time.
> >But the right to distribute the license is de facto included by requiring
> >the distribution.
>
> I did not think this was the case? Am I wrong?!?
I have not discussed this with my attorney. I am only in the toying with ideas
stage of producing material under these licenses. But that is how I read it.
> I think it highly unlikely, but it is POSSIBLE. But at this time it IS only
> a relevant point if you are discussing the independence of the FOUNDATION.
> It is true that "he who has the power to destroy a thing" essentially has a
> great measure of control over it.
The idea of strong "open game" systems is new. WotC doesn't have the power to
destroy the OGF. Let's say for the moment that they do have the power to recind
the OGL (of which I remain unconvinced), then the OGF can quickly build a new
license and continue the movement. I don't know that there would be enough
support for that to happen, but it could. I hope it would. I think it is a
powerful paradigm for the production of quality material. Your point about the
relevance of the OGF dropping to nil is taken, but as Ryan stated that other
OGsystems would be supported (to what level?) by the OGF, that becomes less
true.
I just don't see the duplicity in the OGF statements, even if you can cite
people who are confused. I came to these lists recently. I had been hearing
about D20 and open gaming, and then I saw 3D2K in the store (and the author is a
college buddy) so I bought it and started researching. There is a lot of
confusing stuff. Reading and rereading the licenses, emailing Ryan with
questions, emailing John Tynes with questions, reading these lists, and arguing
about it has really helped (I hope) to solidify my understanding. And I still
feel like there are issues up in the air. So of course people are confused abut
a whole bunch of stuff. That will get worked out as examples and precedent
develop. And this discussion is less than a week old, so it seems reasonable
that Ryan maybe hasn't fully figured out if and how he wants to change the web
pages for clarity. But I still say it will come.
Anyway, my opinion.
Christopher Weeks
central NJ
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