Just to state up front, everything Ryan said is reasonable and makes sense
however I believe there are some issues that are not fully addressed.
"The OGF exists because..."
The concept is excellent but the reason is what I am talking about. Not
what it does but why it became a reality at all. From all indications it
came into being for business reasons (primarily) as supported by
WOTC. Most of the discussion here revolves around WOTC and the SRD and I
can't believe WOTC is involved (ie: the SRD) for reasons that aren't based
on the best interests of the company. (Nothing wrong with that...just seems
the realistic truth.)
"The SRD exists so that it is 100% crystal clear and unambiguous what parts
of D&D are Open Game Content. Anything else would just lead to endless
loophole hunts and confusion."
This is what the SRD does, it is not WHY it is. WOTC had to have a
specific reason to have anything to do with OGF at all. The motivation for
the release is the true "why" and again, I believe it is more an issue of
controlling the ability to make a profit (or more so increasing the ability
to make a profit) with the creative materials owned by WOTC.
"If you "offer up your creative materials" and sell more of them than you
would have if you didn't "offer them up", then there's a GOOD FINANCIAL
REASON to do so."
The logic is true but is the statement? You are assuming that offering up
creative materials as open DOES lead to selling more of them. This may be
true in some cases (such as for WOTC who have evidence to suggest increased
profits if they allow "d20" products) but it begs the question: if this is
true why isn't everything WOTC puts out for D&D
open? Names...places....book titles. I am not suggesting the right to
take credit for these but merely saying why any "protected content" at
all? I mean if offering it up makes money than why doesn't WOTC? I just
don't feel the actions of WOTC supports the statement made and I believe
the reason is that the statement is not a globally true statement. It only
works in a limited context.
"How can you sell someone a toolbox that they are expected to use to create
content, but then expect to enforce a restriction on the distribution of
that content?"
That's just it...WHY are you giving them the toolbox (or should we say
development kit)? The original idea was that Joe gamer went home and made
games for his group...no threat...no need for legal documents. What we are
dealing with here are rules designed specifically for the mass release of
materials. Again, the reason this is happening appears to be to increase
WOTC profits by creating a 'Windows' type environment where developers can
create products based on the d20 operating system. This has been done VERY
successfully in other markets (need I say more) and the business theory
seems like a logical extension to gaming. D&D = Windows, d20 = Windows SDK
, Forgotten Realms = MS Office.
"Example: The 'net is >FULL< of documents and sites where people who had
no problems whatsoever using content from various D&D books as the basis
for their work attempt to assert a draconian re-distribution authority for
the derivative work."
But you don't need an OGF, OGL and SRD to stop plagiarism or copyright
infringement (the laws already exist) so I don't see the statement as
being a good "Why". WOTC isn't doing it to stop those "Draconian" types
from screwing the average gamer. They are taking rightful control of their
own creative property and doling out the rights to distribute that property
in a limited fashion that increases profit without undermining value.
- Marc
At 09:27 AM 4/16/2001 -0700, you wrote:
> > I think something of vital importance is WHY the OGF exists and more
> > specifically the d20 SRD (which is what most of the discussion REALLY is
> > about) exists at all.
>
>The OGF exists because way back in '99 when I started doing research on the
>business model and ethical framework of Free Software it seemed appropriate
>to set up an analog to the Free Software Foundation.
>
>The OGF will eventually serve a larger purpose than it does now. There is a
>bit of chicken and egg effect here - until Open Gaming has some kind of
>voice and visibility, the OGF is a meaningless entity. However, in order to
>shape the Open Game business model and ethical framework, some kind of
>neutral arbiter is needed to provide a foundation for the dialog. The OGF
>is that neutral arbiter.
>
>The SRD exists so that it is 100% crystal clear and unambiguous what parts
>of D&D are Open Game Content. Anything else would just lead to endless
>loophole hunts and confusion.
>
> > But what this all means is that there is NO GOOD FINANCIAL REASON to
>freely
> > offer up your creative materials as "open" if you have any hope of making
> > money.
>
>Well of course there is.
>
>If you "offer up your creative materials" and sell more of them than you
>would have if you didn't "offer them up", then there's a GOOD FINANCIAL
>REASON to do so.
>
> > What it REALLY is, is a chance for people to make money
> > doing what they love.
>
>The framework of the Open Game License also resolves the central conundrum
>at the heart of the RPG business: How can you sell someone a toolbox that
>they are expected to use to create content, but then expect to enforce a
>restriction on the distribution of that content?
>
>It also resolves the ethical issue of publishers challenging those people
>who want to take commercial content created by a publisher, make
>modifications to it, then claim some sort of exclusive copyright to the
>result. Example: The 'net is >FULL< of documents and sites where people
>who had no problems whatsoever using content from various D&D books as the
>basis for their work attempt to assert a draconian re-distribution authority
>for the derivative work.
>
> > Frankly the name itself ("Open Gaming") is pretty funny since the only
> > thing Open about it is that everyone is Open to give the other guy
> > credit.
>
>It is Open because all copyright holders who are a party to the license give
>the public a free, nonexclusive, worldwide license to copy, modify and
>distribute their copyrighted materials.
>
>Ryan
>
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