On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, Ryan S. Dancey wrote:
>Q: That's not very Open then, is it?
>A: The License specifically limits the Product Identity to non-Game Rule
>content. The Open Gaming License is primarily designed to provide a strong
>copyleft and an Open (meaning "freedom to copy, modify and distribute")
>License for Game Rules and materials that use Game Rules. Content that is
>not Game Rules or material that uses Game Rules that is aggregated with such
>content need not be subject to the terms of this License.
My opinion is this is deceiving. The Product Identity (PI) clause
gives sweeping protection to Product Identity not found in the
current laws and precedents. PI is not just exempt from the terms
of the OGL. PI can be made *extra* closed by the terms of the OGL.
I think one source of unhappiness on this list is that on the one
side you are bending over backwards to extend an olive branch to
commercial interests. At the same time, you are suggesting this
is a FSF-like copyleft process. My belief is FSF is all inclusive
in it's virus nature (all content in a single product is copyleft)
and FSF would abhor the PI clause.
Ryan wrote in an earlier message,
>I do draw a distinction on the above opinion between world/setting materials
>and game systems and materials that use game systems; I have not yet begun
>(even on a personal level) to really explore the ethics we'll be dealing
>with when we prepare to create some sort of Open Gaming license for
>worlds/settings.
Again on one day, the justification is that the OGL is aimed at rules
only. But on another day people interested in doing world/setting
materials in an open fashion are welcomed. If you do not feel the
OGL is suitable for WotC to release world/setting materials then we
should be warning others about doing the same. And possibly to wait
for the "Open Gaming Content License" instead of using the "Open
Gaming Mechanics License."
While I believe people looking to do open settings could work under
an open closed mixed+trademark protected license, the current sweeping
PI clause leaves these people open to have their legitimate creative works
easily shutdown by commercial interests looking to reduce competition.
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For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
