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WotC New OGL
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:07 am
by Tahlvin
It sounds like Wizards of the Coast is redrafting the Open Gaming License that allows companies like Paizo to publish games based on D&D:
here and
here. And it sounds like it could have serious repercussions for Paizo and others, since it invalidates the original OGL under which all that other material was released.
Re: WotC New OGL
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 7:02 am
by Mike
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/01/b ... p-creators
Decent analysis of the situation. Especially interesting is the Update section from 1/11, including:
Unlike a bare license without consideration, an offer to contract like this cannot be revoked unilaterally once it has been accepted, under the law of Washington (where they are located) and other states. Since the contract is accepted when someone “uses” the licensed material, then people who relied on the OGL 1.0a have a good argument under contract law that Wizards of the Coast cannot unilaterally withdraw the value that it offered under the contract. ... In short, games that held up their end of the bargain under the OGL 1.0a are entitled to the benefit Wizards of the Coast promised them under that contract.
So existing products created in good faith under the OGL will likely be fine. However, new ones would be disallowed.
Also, since the rules and mechanics of the game are not copyrightable, you can still make a D&D clone legally anyway. You just have different allowances and restrictions than under the OGL. If I understand the article correctly.
Re: WotC New OGL
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 12:03 pm
by Tahlvin
Looks like they've had enough concern that they're changing their approach.