On DDB, You didn't buy it on Foundry. It has been apparent for many months, before WotC bought DDB, that WotC felt that such was not a fair use of their IP.
WotC's 5E (and 2E with some restrictions are on FG) versions of D&D content are available for licensing by VTTs. If Foundry felt it was the right business decision for them, I see no reason they could not also obtain legal access to the content.
So being difficult to do something justifies stealing if it is easier?
They pay for it on DDB, they DO NOT pay for it on their VTT of choice.
I don't recall any lawyers not saying it was a very grey area from day one. And if WotC decided they wanted to do something about it, they probably could. And, it now looks like they are and will.
Popularity does not make things right or ethical. There are way too many instances one can look to history for proof of that, as recent as just a week ago or so.
Roll20 already has a license to release the DMG. They have for years. But Roll20 has stated it was not valuable enough for their users to release it. It's never been about Roll20 having the legal right to release it, it has been as simple as they did not think they could do so for enough profit (possible in part because they did not see that they could add enough value to it).
Let me address your comments, because they seem high on hyperbole -- and low on rationality.
Firstly, this is not about Foundry VTT -- it is about a patreon software shim created by "Mr. Primate", and another less capable free software shim by VTTA.
Secondly, DDB products are something that the vast majority of Foundry VTT users - me included, bought for EXACTLY this purpose. That is ownership of the data from the perspective of "theft" and "ethics". That is a color of right. We aren't talking about theft or piracy anymore -- and it's
not even close.
"
Oh, but you didn't get it for X purposes, you only are allowed to use it for Y purposes. It's theft!"
What you are talking about is not theft, it's a technical breach of an EULA with ZERO DAMAGES.
Indeed, LESS than ZERO damages.
Why? Because WotC makes MORE money if I buy the product on DDB for use with Foundry VTT than if I was to buy the same product on Roll 20 or FG's store -- because on those purchases, WotC gets only a percentage of the sale, whereas when buying it on DDB (for the same amount of money, I might add) WotC gets 100% of it.
Which explains why it is that WotC has not sent a Cease & Desist to Mr. Primate. For the very good reason it is manifestly in WotC's financial interest to allow it to continue. It is, in fact,
insanely profitable for them to do so as the marginal cost of allowing it is
close to ZERO. The money they get in return is essentially all profit - and they get to keep all of it, 100%.
The only people who are aggrieved here is the owner of FG and, to a lesser extent, Roll20, who have technology developed on a more closed system that does not leverage DDB. The people the shareholders of those two services should be upset with is WotC for not sending a C&D.
The fact that WotC has not done so tells you all you need to know about what kind of licensor partner WotC is. They will act
only when it is in their financial interest to do so -- and not until. Just like every other licensor in the history of ever, I might add.
If this is a discussion about morals and ethics, the one who is acting unethically isn't me or other Foundry VTT users of Mr. Primate's patreon -- it's WotC, who is happy to take 100% of a sale and screw over their licensees until such time as they can create their own VTT --
and then screw over everybody.
Which brings us back to the true subject matter of this thread.
