> Yes according to existing laws you are 100% allowed to, but then
>according to existing laws you are NOT allowed to use all the spells
>magic items, monsters etc from the PHB, MM that you ARE
>licensed to use under OGL.
>
> Sure without OGL you could say your product is compatable with
>D&D, but then you wouldnt be able to include 1/2 the stuff in your
>product which you can under OGL. WotC have restricted that
>specific law only if you agree to the OGL, you don't have to use
>OGL if you don't want that restriction, but then you don't get the
>benefits of using OG Licenced content.
that's absolutely true. have there been any D20SRD-based games
released under the WOGL that weren't also D20STL games? because the
latter, of course, still leave you dependent on the PH & DMG. so if
your product is only of use to someone with a PH, then there's no
need to reproduce spells from it. and, of course, you're free and
clear on new, original stuff.
> If you product is 100% original though and does not use anything
>from the PHB etc that you could not use under fair use laws then
>I see no reason why you cannot publish it without it been OGL.
exactly. and that's where i and WotC disagree: i believe that a
*lot* more of the game is not copyrigthable than they do. never mind
fair use for the stuff that *is* copyrighted (which wouldn't get you
very far in trying to reuse it for a game anyway).
> Although I'm not sure what restrictions there are on the D20 logo
>side of things, you may be able to release your product under the
>D20 logo and have nothing to do with the OGL, thus still letting
>you reference PHB etc.
well D20STL (which is the only way to use the D20 logo), requires at
least 5% open content in the work. don't think it specifies open
under which license, however. and it doesn't demand that any of that
open content be derived from the D20SRD.
> Or you could release as under OGL with a single reference
>on the front of you product saying "requires Dungeons & Dragons
>Players Handbook for use" (or whatever the officially agree words
>were, check in the archive on this group for them)
nope. in general, you could theoretically get away with that--if our
legal system didn't favor the deeper pockets. but if you use the
OGL, you explicitly agree *not* to use anybody's trademarks, even
just in reference (as above). i'll be surprised when we see a
D20SRD-based game that is not under the D20STL, because that means
that not only do they not have the brand recognition of the D20
logo/trademark, but they can't say "compatible with D&D" or anything
of the like in the product or the advertising. i don't even think
they can say "compatible with the D20 System" or something similar.
so while you've gained the work already done on the D20 system,
you've gained essentially nothing in terms of marketing potential.
> The reason behind this AFAIK is that having people been able
>to mention D&D in there OGL products would be seen by WotC
>as lowering there sales or potentially making their product look
>bad which would lower their sales. How much that would actually
>happen I'm not sure. I thought that if they had included something
>that said you must say in a more official way than this:-
>
>"this is a 3rd party product under the OGL compatable with D&D
>(+trademark explination etc) from WotC, the product is in no
>way officially endorsed by WotC, nor representative of their
>product quality..."
>
>Ok so that method of saying it sucks, but you should be able to
>get my general idea... Wouldnt this then enable you to indicate
>compatability thus causing more people to know the standard
>gaming system rules and increasing the marked of D&D?
>
>Maybe I'm compleatly wrong? I've not been reading this list
>for too long so thats a good possibility :-)
>
>Anyhow anyone comment on whether what I've said is anywhere
>near the truth??
woodelf <*>
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The Laws of Anime <http://www.abcb.com/laws/index.htm>:
#38 Law of Hydrostatic Emission
Eyes tend to be rather large in Anime. This is because they contain
several gallons of water, which may be instantaneously released at high
pressure through large tear ducts. The actual volume of water contained
in the eyes is unknown, as there is no evidence to suggest that these
reservoirs are actually capable of running out. The reason water tends
to collect in the eyes is because Anime characters only have one large
sweat gland, which is located at the back of the head. When extremely
stressed, embarrassed, or worried, this sweat gland exudes a single but
very large drop of sebaceous fluid.
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