> Eric Lemings
>
> The OGS distribution contains a copy of the SRD in HTML format.
> The SRD is covered by the OGL and the OGS distribution contains a copy of
the > OGL within this directory.

This good, although only the HTML files have the necessary statement that
everything contained within them is OGC.  The SGML and PNG files also need
these statements.  You should also include the HTML files for the other
material you used, such as the srdbasiccharacterclassesii.html file.

> The SRD is the only "Open Game Content" in the OGS
> distribution.  All other content in this distribution is free software
> covered by the GNU GPL.

No, that isn't the case.  Any source code you create that is directly based
on material in the SRD constitutes a derivative work, which (as is expressly
stated in the OGL) requires that the derivative work must also be licensed
under the OGL.  Using the FSF/GNU license does not substitute for using the
OGL.

Virtually every file the ogs\core directory (except the Makefiles) is a
series of OGL violations.  Class members such as "ogs_modifier
fortitude_bonus;" in cclass.h and game values such as the skill ranks per
level and attack bonus in test\rogue.c are obviously taken from the SRD.
Combined with your own admission, it would be trivial for any attorney to
establish with a preponderance of the evidence that you have taken material
from the SRD and incorporated it into your work.  The only way you have
permission to do this is if your code is released under the OGL.

Further, your copyright statement makes no mention of the SRD, Wizards of
the Coast or the authors of the SRD, so in effect you are claiming the
derivative material as your own.  That is a breach of just about every
copyright statute on the books, regardless of which license you release it
under.

> Any further concerns, contact Ryan Dancey or Richard Stallman.  They have
> already had extensive discussions on the compatibility of the two
licenses.

To my knowledge Richard Stallman has not made any public comments regarding
the OGL.  If he has, I would very much like to read them.  I have followed
every one of Ryan's comments on the subject of software and the OGL, and
nowhere has he said that you could substitute the OGL with the GPL or any
other open software license.

I would like nothing better than for Ryan to say that all material in the
SRD is ALSO available under the GNU GPL.  So far he has emphatically NOT
done that, so you would be well advised to reconsider your position before
you put too much work into it.

-Brad

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