Confused with SRD, d20License and OGL

[annadobritt]

Ahem. Help. Please. I am confused.

Can anyone, using plain, simple english tell me what the difference is between the OGL and the d20 license?

Also, I know you cannot use level advancement information in an rpg product, but what if the rules you are working on calls for two different types of advancement? The normal character advancement and the other which has to do with military rank etc. (I think that would somehow fall under Leadership, but not sure yet.)

Can a person release an rpg using the SRD with their own types of character advancement?

 

[Staffan]

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.

As I understand it, the OGL gives you access to the SRD and other Open material. The only requirements are that you include the OGL, and I think anything directly derived from Open material also has to be Open. This doesn't prevent you from including generation/advancement rules, but note that the ones in D&D are not in the SRD and thus you have to write your own that make sense with the rest of the system. I don't know off-hand if the ones Monte Cook wrote up for AU are OGC or not (since I only have the PDFs).

The d20 Trademark license is quite a bit more restrictive. This license allows you to use the d20 logo, but has a lot of restrictions attached to it. The main ones are:
1. No chargen rules.
2. No rules for advancement.
3. You can't change the meaning of about a zillion game terms (listed in the d20 guide on WOTC's site).
4. At least 5% (IIRC) of your product must be Open (note: it doesn't say it has to be new open material, just open).
5. You need to include something along the lines of "Requires the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook to use."

I'm pretty sure you can use non-levelbased advancement in a d20 game (along the lines of military ranks and stuff) - some companies have made products that let you pay XP directly for certain abilities (Oathbound's prestige races come to mind).

 

[Cergorach]

Anna, just take a look at the OGC Lisence (called the OGL) and the D20 Lisence. The D20 Lisence just allows you to put a sticker on your product that says D20 product, but in return you have to follow some additional restrictions. As far as i understand the D20 Lisence it clearly states that you cannot describe how a character advances (there are more restrictions btw.). But on the other hand when you use only the OGL you can add whatever you want, you just can't put the D20 Product sticker on the product...

Oathbound for example is an OGL product only (as far as i can determine). You also might want to take a look at EverQuest, Engel, Mutants & Masterminds, and Traveller D20. There are probably more, but this is what i could find on my bookcase in 5 secs.

 

[trancejeremy]

The OGL is simply a license that allows material to be released for re-use by others.

The d20 STL is a license that lets people use the d20 System Trademark and logo on their products.


The term "OGL" has been used sloppily by others (including some companies that know better) to be sort of a backhanded way of referring to d20, without having to abide by the restrictions of the d20 System Trademark License. They use OGL (wrongly!) because they cannot use the phrase "d20 System" (at least, that's what WOTC's lawyers think), yet still want to convey the idea that they use the d20 rules, more or less.

You can do whatever you want with the SRD, as long as you abide by the terms of the OGL, since it's been released under the OGL.

The d20 STL is a lot more restrictive. Basically, if you want to use the d20 logo on a product, you can't explain how to create characters, or how to level them up (among other things).


(Also, please note that Oathbound and T20 both use the d20 logo.)

 

[Planesdragon]

OGL: use content. d20STL: use "d20"

It's actually fairly simple.

The OGL is a "copyleft" license that gives you permission to use any content that's covered by it--all of the SRD and most rules-text from OGL licensed work.

Now, and this is the important part, the OGL forbids use of anyone's trademarks without their express written permission. The d20STL is that "express written permission" from WotC to use their "d20 System" trademarks.

As for your other questions:

Also, I know you cannot use level advancement information in an rpg product, but what if the rules you are working on calls for two different types of advancement?

If you use the d20STL, you can't tell anyone how to use experience points or level up. You could, theoretically, say, "Leadership is treated as a class all unto its own; you purchase class levels in it just like any other class." But I think that's a bad idea for game-design reasons.

The normal character advancement and the other which has to do with military rank etc. (I think that would somehow fall under Leadership, but not sure yet.)

The d20STL has no prohibitions against describing "character rank." Especially if you make it clear that it's not the same thing as a class. I'd suggest making it not something that can be bought with XP, but rather something awarded in addition to XP, which carries with it a certain ammount of resources and power. (Rank'd be a good substitute for "treasure" in a military game, IMO. You could potentially track it as "favor", and have favor be spent for military favors and formal rank...)

In any case...

If you want to go too far away from D&D, drop the d20STL. Use a term like "3rd edition rules of the world's most popular pen & paper roleplaying game" or something.

You can also use the OpenDie and Prometheus logos, from the FGA. (We're not defunct, just very-very busy and with an amazing shortfall of volunteers.)

 

[The Sigil]

The quick answer is that the d20 license and the OGL are related in the same way squares and rectangles are related.

As in, "all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares."

All d20STL products are OGL products but not all OGL products are d20STL products.

Simply put:

The OGL makes you play by a certain set of "rules." In essence, these rules are:
1.) You may do anything you want with others' Open Game Content.

2.) You specifically agree to avoid others' Trademarks and Product Identity (the degree to which you must avoid them - especially in how "strong" PI designations are and how "far" they carry - is still a subject of debate) unless you get permission to use them.

3.) You must clearly delineate all Open Game Content in your works (again, the word "clearly" is subject to legal debate).

4.) You must have authority to designate things as OGC (you must have either written permission - including another's release of content as OGC under the OGL, which constitutes written permission - or you must yourself be the creator/copyright holder of material you designate as OGC). If you don't have this authority, you can't designate it OGC.

5.) You must include the OGL with your work.

6.) You must update Section 15 of the OGL when you publish to include the information required by the OGL itself (i.e., with all the entries in S15's of sources you draw from and with your own entry for your work).

Now, if you also choose to publish with the d20STL you gain the benefit of written permission to use the d20 logo in conjunction with your work, which is a trademark (see #2 above) but you also agree to:

7.) Not size the logo too small or put anything "over" it to obscure it.

8.) Place on a cover of your work one of several designated phrases (such as "requires the Player's Handbook by Wizards of the Coast" or "requires the use of d20 Modern by Wizards of the Coast").

9.) Not include character generation or advancement rules.

10.) Avoid re-defining certain terms enumerated in the d20STL.

Hope that helps. Consult a lawyer for a full reading, of course, but that's the nuts and bolts of most of it.

--The Sigil

 

[Ranger REG]

See Disclaimer Below.

Can anyone, using plain, simple english tell me what the difference is between the OGL and the d20 license?

OGL = Open Game License. It defines what is Open Games Content and Product Identity. It tells you what how you can contribute your own OGC creation, how to use other Contributor's OGC, and what you cannot use (PI).

d20 License = d20 System Trademark License. A royalty-free license that allow an author to use Wizards' selected trademarks in his or her works. It has many "ground rules" that you must follow. Most of the rules are found in the accompanying Trademark Usage Guide. If you fail to follow the rules, you can be sued for breach of the trademark use license.

Also, I know you cannot use level advancement information in an rpg product, but what if the rules you are working on calls for two different types of advancement? The normal character advancement and the other which has to do with military rank etc. (I think that would somehow fall under Leadership, but not sure yet.)

The level advancement in the d20 license and guide refers to the step-by-step instruction on how to "level up" your character. (e.g., select class, select feats, etc.)

It may be possible to add military rank advancement.

Can a person release an rpg using the SRD with their own types of character advancement?

Yes. Examples of RPG that is released without the d20 System logo includes: Mutants & Masterminds, EverQuest, Engel, etc. These are released under the OGL but not the d20 license.

 

[annadobritt]

Thank you, everyone who has responded to this plea for help.

Everytime I read through the license I get confused and having to deal with more than one type of advancement for characters does not help matters.

If anyone else has any words of wisdom, please contine to post here.

Again, thank you!

 

[Nellisir]

Thank you, everyone who has responded to this plea for help.
Everytime I read through the license I get confused and having to deal with more than one type of advancement for characters does not help matters.
If anyone else has any words of wisdom, please contine to post here.
Again, thank you!

Most of it's been said, and pretty well. The OGL is the main thing -- that governs use and creation of OGC and the SRD. The d20 license tells you what to do if you want to put the d20 logo on your product and indicate compatibility with Dungeons & Dragons -- it puts additional restrictions on your use of WotC-derived OGC, and makes a few demands in return for you getting to use that pretty little logo.

Cheers
Nell.
Throughly unprofessional.

 

[Ranger REG]

If anyone else has any words of wisdom, please contine to post here.

The best words of wisdom: Consult with a real lawyer. Only he or she can give you legal advice, especially regarding license agreements.

Only he can translate the licenses' legalese into layman's language.