NemesisPress
First Post
Let’s recap the basic controversy that came to light in the previous thread and the lessons we should learn from it. I originally posted a question in the OGC Exchange thread that asked how publishers should best use OGC and the OGL. I received an oblique response from Morrus that surprised me: that we should ask permission before using OGC. Had that been from anyone other than Morrus, I would have just chuckled and ignored it. However, both my original question and his opinion seemed to warrant exploration in a new thread.
I was still expecting a reasonable discussion among honorable men (and women). However, with a few notable exceptions that has not been what has transpired. Instead when the subject of permission was broached again, Orcus launched in with a series of tirades vaguely centered around that topic. Now while there are some important points raised in that morass, unfortunately, they were fundamentally both embarassing to himself and the small coterie of sycophants and toadies that chimed in. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted both by the vitriolic nature of the attack and the overt attempt to invalidate the OGC (from someone who – at least in his own estimation – should know better).
However, piecing together the germaine comments from his posts we can see the real issues. Orcus stated that he believes that the OGL/d20 market will disappear (and that his company will continue regardless). That’s a valid point that deserves thoughful discussion. However, it also betrays Orcus’s true intentions - along, of course, with his comments that he cares nothing about the opinions of the people in this online community (rather an interesting statement considering his obvious defensiveness).
The issue at stake of course is that the OGL and d20 licenses make us all (large and small publishers alike) equal in the eyes of WoTC. The advantage that large companies like Orcus’s previously enjoyed over small, one-room publishers is largely gone. Rather naturally, Orcus wants to maintain his position be making sure that he is considered “first among equals.” Now he could certainly do that by taking a leadership position in the industry. However, he (and others of like mind) have chosen instead to attempt to undermine the OGL through a “good-ole-boys” network which uses code words like “courtesy” and “collegiality” to coerce other publishers into “voluntarily” placing restriction on their use of OGC. That not only invalidates the word and perverts the intent of the OGL, but also smacks of collusion.
So what is the answer for the small OGL/d20 publisher? I’ll suggest once again that they band together to create a trade organization where one company gets one vote – an organization that does not allow itself to be dominated by the larger companies and their different concerns. That trade organization would help members – and the industry as a whole – develop everything from marketing plans to positive ways to use OGC and the OGL, as well as provide a pool of resources to assist when a publisher is actually faced with a serious issue – like someone actually stealing protected works. In addition, that organization would give small publishers a collective voice so that they could actually engage in discussion with larger companies (and WoTC) on an equal footing. What say ye?
I was still expecting a reasonable discussion among honorable men (and women). However, with a few notable exceptions that has not been what has transpired. Instead when the subject of permission was broached again, Orcus launched in with a series of tirades vaguely centered around that topic. Now while there are some important points raised in that morass, unfortunately, they were fundamentally both embarassing to himself and the small coterie of sycophants and toadies that chimed in. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted both by the vitriolic nature of the attack and the overt attempt to invalidate the OGC (from someone who – at least in his own estimation – should know better).
However, piecing together the germaine comments from his posts we can see the real issues. Orcus stated that he believes that the OGL/d20 market will disappear (and that his company will continue regardless). That’s a valid point that deserves thoughful discussion. However, it also betrays Orcus’s true intentions - along, of course, with his comments that he cares nothing about the opinions of the people in this online community (rather an interesting statement considering his obvious defensiveness).
The issue at stake of course is that the OGL and d20 licenses make us all (large and small publishers alike) equal in the eyes of WoTC. The advantage that large companies like Orcus’s previously enjoyed over small, one-room publishers is largely gone. Rather naturally, Orcus wants to maintain his position be making sure that he is considered “first among equals.” Now he could certainly do that by taking a leadership position in the industry. However, he (and others of like mind) have chosen instead to attempt to undermine the OGL through a “good-ole-boys” network which uses code words like “courtesy” and “collegiality” to coerce other publishers into “voluntarily” placing restriction on their use of OGC. That not only invalidates the word and perverts the intent of the OGL, but also smacks of collusion.
So what is the answer for the small OGL/d20 publisher? I’ll suggest once again that they band together to create a trade organization where one company gets one vote – an organization that does not allow itself to be dominated by the larger companies and their different concerns. That trade organization would help members – and the industry as a whole – develop everything from marketing plans to positive ways to use OGC and the OGL, as well as provide a pool of resources to assist when a publisher is actually faced with a serious issue – like someone actually stealing protected works. In addition, that organization would give small publishers a collective voice so that they could actually engage in discussion with larger companies (and WoTC) on an equal footing. What say ye?
Last edited:
