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"Quality Standards" in the d20 System Guide

MythosaAkira

Explorer
Haven't noticed this until it was mentioned on one of the lists recently; I'm assuming this is new:

From the d20 System Trademark Guide Version 4.0:

Quality Standards
In determining whether a product complies with community standards of decency, Wizards of the Coast uses, but is not limited to the following. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a product complies with community standards of decency.

Violence and Gore – Descriptions of combat are acceptable in a Covered Product. However art or text depicting excessively graphic violence or gore is not acceptable.

Sexual Themes - Sexual situations—including abuse and pornography—may not appear graphically in art or text. When depicting the human form—or creatures possessing humaniform features—gratuitous nudity, the depiction of genitalia, bare female nipples, and sexual or bathroom activity is not acceptable. While sensuality and sexuality may appear in a Covered Product, it must not be the focus nor can it be salacious in nature.

Prejudice - Covered Products can not depict existing real-world minorities, nationalities, social castes, religious groups, genders, lifestyle preferences, or people with disabilities as a group inferior to any other group. Current, real-world religions and religious groups and/or practices will not be portrayed in any way that promotes disrespect for these religions or their participants. A Covered Product can not endorse or promote any specific religion or religious practice.

and under Mandatory Requirements
All Covered Products must comply with Quality Standards as described above and in the d20 System License.


From the d20 System Trademark License Version 5.0:

4. Quality Standards
The nature of all material You use or distribute that incorporates the Licensed Articles must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as community standards of decency, as further described in the d20 System Guide. You must use Your best efforts to preserve the high standard and goodwill of the Licensed Trademarks. In order to assure the foregoing standard and quality requirements, Wizards of the Coast shall have the right, upon notice to You, to review and inspect all material released by You that uses the Licensed Articles. You shall fully cooperate with Wizards of the Coast to facilitate such review and inspection, including timely provision of copies of all such materials to Wizards of the Coast. Wizards of the Coast may terminate this License immediately upon attempted notice to you if it deems, in its sole discretion, that your use of the Licensed Articles does not meet the above standards.


A bit of a change from previous versions of the licenses.
 

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Interesting...

You don't suppose this could possibly have been partly inspired by a certain book published by a certain former employee of theirs, do you? ;)
 

Mark

CreativeMountainGames.com
mouseferatu said:
Interesting...

You don't suppose this could possibly have been partly inspired by a certain book published by a certain former employee of theirs, do you? ;)

When did you work for WotC? Besides, I didn't think you could see the nipples on the cover of Shadows Under Thessalaine... ;)
 

trancejeremy

Adventurer
Kind of ironic, as probably the best selling versions of AD&D/D&D featured topless women...

And gore. That famous Paladin in Hell pic has a Paladin chopping up a devil.
 

If I'm not mistaken, you can always use an earlier version of the license, correct? Oh, this is for the d20 license? Okay, so you can still have nipples and racism in Open Gaming License-marked products, but you cannot have those things if you want to put d20 on the cover. Check.
 

RangerWickett said:
If I'm not mistaken, you can always use an earlier version of the license, correct? Oh, this is for the d20 license? Okay, so you can still have nipples and racism in Open Gaming License-marked products, but you cannot have those things if you want to put d20 on the cover. Check.
Well, I certainly hope someone informs WotC of an obvious violator and has the Book of Vile Darkness pulled from shelves. Such hypocracy!!
 

KingOfChaos

First Post
Yep...pure bull:):):):) actually. They release the BoVD, then try and make it where other companies can't release similar products. I'll have to contact my lawyer about this and see if there is anything I can do to get around it.
 

MythosaAkira

Explorer
jmucchiello said:
Well, I certainly hope someone informs WotC of an obvious violator and has the Book of Vile Darkness pulled from shelves. Such hypocracy!!

Not to mention this "Monster Manual v3.5" thing I've seen...
 

Mark said:
When did you work for WotC? Besides, I didn't think you could see the nipples on the cover of Shadows Under Thessalaine... ;)

lol

You just made my day, Mark. I didn't think anyone even remembered Shadows Under Thessalaine. :D

On a slightly different topic...

WotC may seem a tad hypocritical, forbidding such things when they've done it themselves in the BoVD and (borderline) in the MM 3.5. But the thing is, their logic may just be as follows:

It may not be that they object to all such material. They may just be concerned that other people may overdo it, and thus want to keep any associated "adult" material in their own hands. Remember, D&D books aren't bound by the D20 License.

I'm not saying whether it's good or bad; just that it's their playground and they absolutely have the right to set whatever rules they want.
 

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