----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan Rogers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 3:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] [ogf-d20-l] New to the list and have questions
already
> Hi all, my first post, though I've been lurking for nearly 3 months!!! I
> finally posted this we are planning on using d20 in a game project and
> Robert's post directly applied.
>
> > >
> > > This is a value-for-value trade, and everybody benefits.
> > >
> >
> > Actually, not everyone benefits. There can be no such thing as D20
> software.
> > An 'Interactive Game' is denied in the D20STLG.
> >
> > "You may not use the d20 System License or the d20 System Logo in
> > conjunction with any product that meets the definition of an
"Interactive
> > Game" as defined in this Guide."
> >
>
> Actually, this just means you can't use the logo or call it d20. That is
> the the D20STL protects, the identity. You can still use the D20SRD,
that's
> a managed by a completely different license (the OGL, current version
1.0a).
> In that license note the following words:
>
> "(b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative
> works and translations (including into other computer languages)"
>
> So, my take (as well as my lawyer's) is that you can use any of the
> infrormation you are given access to by the OGL in computer software (game
> or otherwise). However, if it's a game you can not use the d20 trademark
or
> logo. In either case, the software code dealing with OGL licensed
material
> must be made Open Source as well (the code would be distributed).
>
> Does anybody not agree with this interpretation?
>
>
I agree. But I was specifically talking about the D20 logo. Won't see it on
software.
> I would have to disagree with this, since they say "gaming" in the
> definition. If they just said "software" then sure, the rest of the
> sentence applies to any piece of software that is user driven. But by
> saying "gaming software" I think it's pretty clear it applies only to
> computer games. I don't think of Excel or Word as "computer gaming
> software". Take the word "gaming" out though and it applies to all
software
>
> The real question is the following: is a utility or tool program like a
> program to design levels or build worlds or generate NPC's considered
> "gaming software". Again, I'd have to argue no. It's not a game. The
> definition of a game is "An activity providing entertainment or amusement;
a
> pastime:". A tool is not certainly not a game then, a software tool is
used
> to streamline a task that without a computer is more difficult. Every
game
> has a single univeral goal, to be fun, to amuse. This is not in the
> definition of every tool, the definition of a tool is to take a task and
> make it easier with a tool.
>
> Again, thoughts on this interpretation?
Here is a direct quote from a email I got from Ryan Dancey.
"If you input values, the software uses the rules to determine success or
failure, and the software returns the result, it's a game by anyone's
commonsense definition.
Ryan"
Robert
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