[Gleemax]Another thing not to like.

[Imaro]

Well a while back I posted concern over Gleemax/WotC's user agreement terms as they pertained to fan generated content and ownership...well now we know, and I am so not feeling the answer. Here's the relevant part...

One other aspect of our Terms of Use and Terms of Service that we worked out recently is our stand with respect to user-generated content. Right now our policy is that we own anything that you post to our websites. However, we've decided to modify that policy. Once Gleemax goes live and our new Terms of Use and Terms of Service kick in, you will retain ownership of any content you post (well, any content that you owned in the first place, anyway. And, of course, you are prohibited from violating or infringing the rights of others.). The one thing you do grant to us by posting your content onto our site is the right to use it as we please. So, if you post (for example) an awesome Magic card or a D&D feat that we think is cool, we're allowed to put it into one of our books, card sets, etc.

Not sure this is necessarily a good thing, and I certainly don't like the fact that they can use whatever I post in any way they want. Perhaps more will be revealed later, but I don't see this as encouraging other game owners, designers, etc. to post anything on Gleemax. Just my 2 cents though.

Anyone who wants to read the whole thing, it's posted here at Randy's blog...

www.gleemax.com/articles/announcement010.html

 

[JoeGKushner]

Yeah... you';d have to post any game related material under the SRD so that WoTC if they chose to use it would have to make it open content!

 

[Nifft]

I'm assuming this is a "cover-your-assets" kind of thing, to prevent people from engaging in "feat speculation" (for example) -- spamming the boards with their homebrewed feats and hoping someone at WotC uses a similar enough feat in a published supplement, so he can sue WotC for a portion of royalties.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kem]

I'm assuming this is a "cover-your-assets" kind of thing, to prevent people from engaging in "feat speculation" (for example) -- spamming the boards with their homebrewed feats and hoping someone at WotC uses a similar enough feat in a published supplement, so he can sue WotC for a portion of royalties.

Cheers, -- N

Yeah its pretty common.

However, just because they use it doesn't mean that you lose possession of it.

So if they use your super duper feat of awesomeness. You could still print that feat out in a book of your own.

THAT is interesting

 

[Zaruthustran]

No comment on the name & logo, but I love what Gleemax is trying to do. It's bold. It's daring. It's a huge investment of resources in making the hobby game industry Better. For players, retailers, and producers.

 

[Imaro]

I think what's different now, as opposed to the WotC specific boards, is that Gleemax is suppose to be a place where gaming content and the gaming community can come together regardless of game system or setting. The problem is if it does attain that goal, anything posted can be used by WotC. Now the established IP of any particular company is protected, but anything else...for any system, or setting can be used by WotC as they please. I'm sorry but creating what is suppose to be a "neutral" site for gaming and implementing this doesn't seem productive. Sites like enworld, rpg.net and therpgsite make no such claims on the property of posters...because they are neutral sites.

I know if anything this would seem to discourage game designers of other companies, or even those that hope to get something published, from posting their ideas and recieveing feedback from the community. IMHO it just doesn't seem in the proper spirit of what this site is suppose to be.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Not sure this is necessarily a good thing, and I certainly don't like the fact that they can use whatever I post in any way they want.

I'm a little uneasy with it as well, though that's more from my copyfighting paranoia than from anything truly monstrous.

The smart move, then, if you think you have a feat worth selling, is to sell it, not put it on Gleemax.

But the fan's move (which I'm sure WotC will get a lot of free game design out of) is to put it on Gleemax and have everyone excited about it.

Of course, if you DO game design on Gleemax that WotC uses, I suppose that's a good way of saying "Look at how good a designer I am!" and then can be leveraged to create new design for a fee, but in the mean time, your hard work benefits WotC directly, and you get pretty much jack out of the deal, which strikes me as....quite the dick move. I can put a feat up on ENWorld, and I retain ALL the rights to that biznatch. WotC seems to be trying to milk Gleemax for good D&D ideas (which is a solid thing to do), but not giving much to those who come up with those good ideas (which pretty much means free game design for WotC).

It's very smart.

It's not very cool.

 

[Imaro]

Everyone keeps talking about feats...but do people realize this includes any homebrew world you might post or ideas that are a part of it that you post. Any new game concept (miniature, card based, or something entirely new). Even somethig like Rycanda's E6 could be published and sold by WotC if posted on their site. This just makes me extremely uneasy. It's a site that's suppose to go beyond WotC's games...yet gives them the right to use any material you post in any way they see fit.

 

[Hussar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't everything posted on Enworld the property of Enworld?

How is that neutral?

 

[I'm A Banana]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't everything posted on Enworld the property of Enworld?

Is that the case?

Hmm....maybe I'm jumping at shadows. I assumed that what I posted on ENWorld is still my copyright (I could post something here, then publish it later, and still get paid for it).