OK Doug. Lets look at these three paragraphs.
1) I was involved with Dunandralis. I haven't contributed not because of
legal wrangling but rather because there doesn't seem to be any direction.
2) Even with your proposed add-on _you still need to comply with the OGL_,
just because you aren't doing it for profit doesn't mean you can't be
involved in legal problems. With or without your add-on.
3)I agree that many great gaming minds are doing things and creating modules
for themselves and their friends. And there is nothing wrong with that.
_However_, once you go beyond sharing with your friends or your gaming club,
if you don't follow the rules AS WRITTEN you risk diluting the trademark.
Releasing it as free doesn't release you from liability.
No-one on this list is saying "don't do it". We are saying that unless you
are 100% certain of your interpetation of the OGL then you need to get
competent legal advice. The people on this list can't risk giving legal
advice. And none of us want to see you lose everything.
Bob
P.S. this is for you too, Christina
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Meerschaert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
The last time someone posted something new for Dunandralis was months ago...
because those of us who really cared were entangled in legal wrangling, and
finally gave up. We had to try and balance creative control with openness,
and in the end lost our way simply because we couldn't afford the lost time.
With some kind of extra, "not for money" add on to the OGL, we can provide
an easy route for these people. As evidenced by every newbie who balks when
told to "go get a lawyer", there is a definite niche for this; not for
professional game producers, but for amatures and fans, for the kind of
person who writes a game for fun and wants to share it, not for some
idealistic cause or for his bottom line.
And you might not believe it, but some of the best minds who roleplay don't
write roleplaying games or modules or adventures for publication, don't want
to gamble on a business, and don't want to bother hiring a lawyer just for
something they do for fun. If we avoid these people, or continually squash
them down, then the OGF (or, to be percise, "the open gaming community") is
no better than what its worst critics call it; a way for corporations to
cash in on the "Open Source" buzz without really sticking to its ideals.
Doug Meerschaert
P.S. And before someone thinks otherwise, I *do* recognize that there have
been tremendous ammounts of time and good will given freely towards those
who are trying to do this, but have no hope of getting money from it. I
only mean to encourage more of this admirable behavior, not belittle what
has already been done.
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