Hasbro won't back off from deauthorizing the OGL, and nor should they.

[Aspirinsmurf]

I do not believe there is an action there. I wish there was. If it went to court it would be because Hasbro brought an action.

In theory, I think there are parties with grounds to sue them for anticipatory breach if and when this illegal "notice of deathorization" is supposed to take effect.

Prima facie, I also think that some parties might have other grounds to pursue legal action against them right now, for tortious interference, as an example.

However, there's very little to be gained by doing so. WotC could still back off. So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Morrus]

In theory, I think there are parties with grounds to sue them for anticipatory breach if and when this "notice of deathorization" is supposed to take effect. Prima facie, I also think that some parties might have other grounds to pursue legal action against them right now, for tortious interference, as an example.

However, there's very little to be gained by doing so. WotC could still back off. So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

As I said, I don’t believe so.

 

[overgeeked]

business and investor perspective. From a moral standpoint…

And here I am hoping for a day when those aren’t separate concerns. Sigh.

 

[Morrus]

It would still be very expensive and painful for Pazio as well.

it would be painful but survivable for EN Publishing. Paizo is a hundred times our size. They’d be fine. Nobody wants to be sued, but they’d handle it.

 

[Aspirinsmurf]

As I said, I don’t believe so.

In the sense that such an action has a lower likelihood of success than using the OGL 1.0a as a defense against claims of copyright infringement, I believe you're right. In the sense that there is no way to go on the offensive here at all, I believe you're wrong. It just doesn't seem very prudent.

 

[Aspirinsmurf]

That said, this individual might be preparing to do something, judging by the contents of this supposed letter and some anonymous statements made to Gizmodo. I would try to reach out to them if you want to explore possible options, but I wouldn't expect any statements on the record.

Sad Fishe Games, LLC (copy)

St. Louis based tabletop role playing game creators and publishers: Sad Fishe Games, LLC

sadfishegames.carrd.co

 

[Retreater]

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
Yeah, they can fight it in court. They might even win. But it will be a pyrrhic victory that will cost them substantially in certain groups.
While they may not care, many DMs will care. These are the people who buy the most product and run the games.

 

[Jaeger]

WotC could still back off. So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I do not see any scenario where that will happen.

They have spent far too much money acquiring D&D beyond, and creating the OneVTT to back down now.

 

[Aspirinsmurf]

I do not see any scenario where that will happen.

I'm not saying that I think they will. I am saying that they can. That has some legal ramifications, I would assume.

 

[Greg Benage]

That said, this individual might be preparing to do something, judging by the contents of this supposed letter and some anonymous statements made to Gizmodo.

I'm sorry, this is three weeks old and it's a joke. The "demand" was for a more "definite statement from Wizards."

I guess Wizards has delivered now and are safe, at the moment, from further legal action.