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<blockquote data-quote="I'm A Banana" data-source="post: 5919666" data-attributes="member: 2067"><p>They call it "<a href="http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/ma/fattach_get.php?1=AvUG~wr~DP8Skhb~Gv8e~yJ7Jvsq~y7~Mv82~zr~&2=141114" target="_blank">OPTA</a>"</p><p></p><p>It doesn't seem to be violating the terms of the OPTA to link to it or discuss it, so I was hoping the braintrust here (including smarter folks than I) could help us all parse the leagalese surrounding it a little better.</p><p></p><p>Some things that leap out at me (IANAL, etc.):</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> <strong>You're not allowed to share it</strong>. You -- and only you -- are granted a right to personally use the playtest material only as defined in the agreement. That appears to mean that if you print out copies of the rules and give them to your players, you just violated the agreement. Your players must have their own copies of the rules. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> <strong>Wizards is technically employing you</strong>."Work-for-hire"? Man, talk about not paying a living wage! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> Also, apparently you give Wizards some limited power of attorney and they own the copyright on anything you give them. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> <strong>You can't modify or make new stuff</strong>. Want to make your own monster? Want to swap race and class? Want to invent a spear? NO. DO NOT. IT IS A VIOLATION, FOLKS. You can't create derivative materials. You can't even "use them for your own benefit," so I guess if you wanted to wipe your bum with them, that violates it, too. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> You CAN talk about your thoughts and opinions, and that's pleasant of them to let us talk about those. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> <strong>NDA's are over!</strong> Anyone who previously playtested is no longer under NDA, so they can open their yaps now. </li> </ul><p></p><p>There's also a <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/dndnextfaq" target="_blank">FAQ</a> which covers much of the same ground.</p><p></p><p>The key points for most casual folk seem to be that no, you can't modify this, and no, you can't make new stuff from it, and no, you can't make copies for your group. </p><p></p><p>The FAQ, a little out of left field, also claims that you can't playtest the game online, or take video or audio of your playtest and share that. So if you were hoping to do a G+ hangout with your old high school buddies and post the results to YouTube, Wizards wants you to know that both of those things are not cool at all.</p><p></p><p>I'm a little vague on what happens if you DO violate the agreement -- if WotC's Fun Police will come to your house on Saturday if you make copies and give them to your group and run the game with invented monsters, put you in handcuffs, and take you in front of Mearls to be beaten with a disenchanter's snout or what -- but it seems pretty clear that these things ARE a violation.</p><p></p><p>PS: </p><p>OPTA-MUS PRIME</p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/996/996813/optimus-prime-20090622044515697.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="I'm A Banana, post: 5919666, member: 2067"] They call it "[URL="http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/ma/fattach_get.php?1=AvUG~wr~DP8Skhb~Gv8e~yJ7Jvsq~y7~Mv82~zr~&2=141114"]OPTA[/URL]" It doesn't seem to be violating the terms of the OPTA to link to it or discuss it, so I was hoping the braintrust here (including smarter folks than I) could help us all parse the leagalese surrounding it a little better. Some things that leap out at me (IANAL, etc.): [LIST] [*] [B]You're not allowed to share it[/B]. You -- and only you -- are granted a right to personally use the playtest material only as defined in the agreement. That appears to mean that if you print out copies of the rules and give them to your players, you just violated the agreement. Your players must have their own copies of the rules. [*] [B]Wizards is technically employing you[/B]."Work-for-hire"? Man, talk about not paying a living wage! :p Also, apparently you give Wizards some limited power of attorney and they own the copyright on anything you give them. [*] [B]You can't modify or make new stuff[/B]. Want to make your own monster? Want to swap race and class? Want to invent a spear? NO. DO NOT. IT IS A VIOLATION, FOLKS. You can't create derivative materials. You can't even "use them for your own benefit," so I guess if you wanted to wipe your bum with them, that violates it, too. ;) You CAN talk about your thoughts and opinions, and that's pleasant of them to let us talk about those. ;) [*] [B]NDA's are over![/B] Anyone who previously playtested is no longer under NDA, so they can open their yaps now. [/LIST] There's also a [URL="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/dndnextfaq"]FAQ[/URL] which covers much of the same ground. The key points for most casual folk seem to be that no, you can't modify this, and no, you can't make new stuff from it, and no, you can't make copies for your group. The FAQ, a little out of left field, also claims that you can't playtest the game online, or take video or audio of your playtest and share that. So if you were hoping to do a G+ hangout with your old high school buddies and post the results to YouTube, Wizards wants you to know that both of those things are not cool at all. I'm a little vague on what happens if you DO violate the agreement -- if WotC's Fun Police will come to your house on Saturday if you make copies and give them to your group and run the game with invented monsters, put you in handcuffs, and take you in front of Mearls to be beaten with a disenchanter's snout or what -- but it seems pretty clear that these things ARE a violation. PS: OPTA-MUS PRIME [CENTER][IMG]http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/996/996813/optimus-prime-20090622044515697.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [/QUOTE]
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