karianna
First Post
This has been cross posted from the Software Forum, I though that it would be relevant here also.
-----------------------------------------
To all involved in the d20 software industry,
There has been a lot of recent discussion about 3rd party usage of
PCGen datasets (whether it be direct use or through a converter).
We promised we'd look into all of the ramifications for this and
produce an open statement to the industry/community, so here
it is!
Firstly we'd like to say that we're flattered and humbled that people
want to use datasets from PCGen for their own software projects!
Please read this until the end before replying, it's a long post meant
to be read in its entirety! Please do reply to the relevant snippet of
the post as quoting the whole post will be painful for everyone!
-------------------------------------------
Statement 0 - Trademark/Ownership/Licenses:
-------------------------------------------
PCGen is trademarked by Bryan McRoberts, and he is the original author
of PCGen. He retains the title of Benevolent Dictator and has appointed
a Board of Directors to continue the development and vibrancy of the PCGen
project.
We would like to remind the community that the executable and source code
is distributed under a different license than the data (for details, please
see the license files distributed with our code and libraries).
The data is licensed under the OGL or is distributed by the PCGen project
with special permission from the publisher.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Statement 1 - Concerning the use of CMP datasets, ask them!
-----------------------------------------------------------
We are not CMP
. If you wish to convert/use their datasets, please
contact them directly! Contact Rob Reed (Mynex) over at:
http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com
----------------------------------
Statement 2 - PCGen wants to help!
----------------------------------
Some of you might get the impression that we're trying to block other
projects off or generally be nasty. Hopefully over the last 6+
years we've proven that we're simply not like that.
So I'll say again, we actually want to encourage others into this
industry, choice is good, innovation is good, more exposure for
publishers is good. I mean hey, we _are_ non-profit and open source
after all and we certainly don't want to involve lawyers (no offence
to any lawyers out there)!
---------------------------------------------------
Statement 3 - Publishers and the Software Industry:
---------------------------------------------------
We at PCGen take great pains to try and gain publisher permission(s)
for the datasets we produce, whether the source material is pure OGL
or whether it is permissioned. Even for the pure OGL source material
we still seek permission, not because we're legally required to but
because we respect the work done by the publisher. If we don't get
permission, we don't release the dataset.
Although we can't tell others what to do, we believe that in this
industry that the software projects should play nicely with the
publishers and we encourage any existing and upcoming products to also
get explicit permission from the publishers. This has the added
benefit of the publishers promoting you as well!
------------------------------------------
Statement 4 - 3rd Party Use of PCGen Data:
------------------------------------------
1) PCGen has specific agreements with publishers that allow it to use
data that may not be permissible under the OGL. Failure on the part
of any 3rd party (that uses PCGen data) to acquire those agreements
may result breach of the OGL and copyright infringement.
2) We are more than willing to assist in acquiring those permissions
for free, open source applications. We have been supported by other
free, open source applications and feel a sense of responsibility to
the community. We will maintain a public list of "PCGen Compatible"
applications that have acquired publisher permissions. "PCGen Compatible"
applications will be able to request permission to use the PCGen logo on
documentation and advertising and will most certainly receive our full
support.
At time of writing the "PCGen compatible" software projects are:
* Shard
* PCGScry
* pcgenview
* Open RPG
3) Requests to use the PCGen data as part of a commercial product will
be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (See item 1) PCGen makes no claims
that permission is required nor does it waive any rights. PCGen makes no
guarantees or warranties on behalf of 3rd parties (including, but not
limited to the publishers). We make no statement as to the ability of
individual contributors to investigate similar options.
PCGen would be extremely disappointed if you just went ahead anyway and
we'd certainly take action (whether it be legal or community 'name and
shame'). Why? Because we think that making profit off the backs of the
hard labour of volunteers without their permission is just plain rude.
3a) We've heard the old argument that CMP broke this ideal. I will
re-iterate that CMP produced their own data sets from scratch and that
none of the open source data sets were used and then sold on to the
community. CMP, like ourselves would consider that the height of
rudeness.
**
If you are a 3rd party software project please don't hesitate to contact
either myself or Paul King to discuss permissions and compatibility.
**
Thanks for taking time to read this post!
On Behalf of the PCGen Community
Karianna
Chair Person of the Board of Directors - PCGen
-----------------------------------------
To all involved in the d20 software industry,
There has been a lot of recent discussion about 3rd party usage of
PCGen datasets (whether it be direct use or through a converter).
We promised we'd look into all of the ramifications for this and
produce an open statement to the industry/community, so here
it is!
Firstly we'd like to say that we're flattered and humbled that people
want to use datasets from PCGen for their own software projects!
Please read this until the end before replying, it's a long post meant
to be read in its entirety! Please do reply to the relevant snippet of
the post as quoting the whole post will be painful for everyone!
-------------------------------------------
Statement 0 - Trademark/Ownership/Licenses:
-------------------------------------------
PCGen is trademarked by Bryan McRoberts, and he is the original author
of PCGen. He retains the title of Benevolent Dictator and has appointed
a Board of Directors to continue the development and vibrancy of the PCGen
project.
We would like to remind the community that the executable and source code
is distributed under a different license than the data (for details, please
see the license files distributed with our code and libraries).
The data is licensed under the OGL or is distributed by the PCGen project
with special permission from the publisher.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Statement 1 - Concerning the use of CMP datasets, ask them!
-----------------------------------------------------------
We are not CMP
. If you wish to convert/use their datasets, pleasecontact them directly! Contact Rob Reed (Mynex) over at:
http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com
----------------------------------
Statement 2 - PCGen wants to help!
----------------------------------
Some of you might get the impression that we're trying to block other
projects off or generally be nasty. Hopefully over the last 6+
years we've proven that we're simply not like that
.So I'll say again, we actually want to encourage others into this
industry, choice is good, innovation is good, more exposure for
publishers is good. I mean hey, we _are_ non-profit and open source
after all and we certainly don't want to involve lawyers (no offence
to any lawyers out there)!
---------------------------------------------------
Statement 3 - Publishers and the Software Industry:
---------------------------------------------------
We at PCGen take great pains to try and gain publisher permission(s)
for the datasets we produce, whether the source material is pure OGL
or whether it is permissioned. Even for the pure OGL source material
we still seek permission, not because we're legally required to but
because we respect the work done by the publisher. If we don't get
permission, we don't release the dataset.
Although we can't tell others what to do, we believe that in this
industry that the software projects should play nicely with the
publishers and we encourage any existing and upcoming products to also
get explicit permission from the publishers. This has the added
benefit of the publishers promoting you as well!
------------------------------------------
Statement 4 - 3rd Party Use of PCGen Data:
------------------------------------------
1) PCGen has specific agreements with publishers that allow it to use
data that may not be permissible under the OGL. Failure on the part
of any 3rd party (that uses PCGen data) to acquire those agreements
may result breach of the OGL and copyright infringement.
2) We are more than willing to assist in acquiring those permissions
for free, open source applications. We have been supported by other
free, open source applications and feel a sense of responsibility to
the community. We will maintain a public list of "PCGen Compatible"
applications that have acquired publisher permissions. "PCGen Compatible"
applications will be able to request permission to use the PCGen logo on
documentation and advertising and will most certainly receive our full
support.
At time of writing the "PCGen compatible" software projects are:
* Shard
* PCGScry
* pcgenview
* Open RPG
3) Requests to use the PCGen data as part of a commercial product will
be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (See item 1) PCGen makes no claims
that permission is required nor does it waive any rights. PCGen makes no
guarantees or warranties on behalf of 3rd parties (including, but not
limited to the publishers). We make no statement as to the ability of
individual contributors to investigate similar options.
PCGen would be extremely disappointed if you just went ahead anyway and
we'd certainly take action (whether it be legal or community 'name and
shame'). Why? Because we think that making profit off the backs of the
hard labour of volunteers without their permission is just plain rude.
3a) We've heard the old argument that CMP broke this ideal. I will
re-iterate that CMP produced their own data sets from scratch and that
none of the open source data sets were used and then sold on to the
community. CMP, like ourselves would consider that the height of
rudeness.
**
If you are a 3rd party software project please don't hesitate to contact
either myself or Paul King to discuss permissions and compatibility.
**
Thanks for taking time to read this post!
On Behalf of the PCGen Community
Karianna
Chair Person of the Board of Directors - PCGen
