RE: [Ogf-l] Is this possible?

[Jim Butler]

Title: Message

I suspect he's crossed both moral and legal boundaries with this declaration. I also suspect that WotC won't comment on it, but maybe they have more time after the holidays to pursue such things.

 

Good Gaming!

 

Jim Butler, President

Bastion Press, Inc.

http://www.bastionpress.com

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Michael Thibault
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 8:57 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Ogf-l] Is this possible?

I know that this product, and author/publisher, have already been worked over with a rubber hose, so I'm not interested in personal attacks or general complaints.  The product is back up and running, apparently with some sort of WotC "approval" (and without knowing exactly what they said, I use quotation-marks deliberately).

But on the Introduction page of the "teaser" I found this statement:

"Declaration of Open Content: 100% of this Product is Open Content subject to the Product Identity listed here: "DaemonEye Publishing", "Psionics Companion", alterations to psionic combat, alterations to psion, alterations to psychic warrior, Psionic Gifts, all new feats, all new powers, all new items, all new prestige classes, all new organizations. License to use these items can be acquired privately."

Is it possible to release a feat or a class (let alone a class that is altered from a pre-existing SRD class) that is for the d20 system as product identity?

I guess the ultimate proof will be in WotC reaction, but I'm curious about whether or not people think that he's crossed a moral line, or a legal line (or neither, I suppose) with this Declaration of Open Content.

BTW, I've taken this quote from a preview of the product on the publisher's website (Jan 2, 2003). If it does not appear in the commercially available product then the question becomes hypothetical but I'll allow it to stand.

Mike

 

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