Has WotC ever enforced the OGL?

[philreed]

Does anyone have any knowledge of an instance in which WotC took action to enforce the OGL?

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Does anyone have any knowledge of an instance in which WotC took action to enforce the OGL?

d20 yes; OGL no.

 

[Gilwen]

Didn't they take action againist Fast Forward for using names that where PI and maybe some D20 STL viloations?

Gil

 

[Psion]

Didn't they take action againist Fast Forward for using names that where PI and maybe some D20 STL viloations?

That's d20 STL violations, not OGL. Like Wulf says.

I doubt that WotC is interested in spending money to have its legal department chase down issues that ultimately don't affect its bottom lines. Doing things like correcting someone elses section 15 when adding it or not adding your own copyright to it probably don't fall into that category.

 

[DaveMage]

IIRC, the Fast Forward decision was made by Fast Forward - there was no legal action against them. Before he left WotC, Anthony Valterra specifically mentioned (IIRC) that he was happy with the fact that he never had to initiate legal action against anyone for violations.

Of course, we don't know what action (if any) has taken place at an informal level...

 

[Gilwen]

d20 yes; OGL no.

what where the violations? Because if the product violated any trademarks or PI content then it clearly violates the OGL as well.
*edited for spelling* stupid keys changed on me
Gil

 

[Gilwen]

Found this at Gamingreport: http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=8019
Give some details into four of their products.

Gil

 

[philreed]

d20 yes; OGL no.

That was what I thought.

 

[Maggan]

Found this at Gamingreport: http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=8019
Give some details into four of their products.

Gil

To quote myself from another thread:

My memory might be deficient, but I remember it like this (paraphrased):

WotC said "you're in violation"
Jim Ward said "uh, I didn't understand the OGL"
WotC said "well, make sure you do"
Jim Ward said "okay, okay, okay ... hmmm ... I'll just destroy the damn books then"

Jim Ward then implied that WotC forced him to destroy the books, but reading his communication to the public carefully revelead that he himself took that decision. WotC did not make him destroy the books. But Ward really, really wanted people to interpret the situation that way.

At least that's my recollection of the incident.

So it is difficult to say how harshly WotC would have enforced the breach, if Ward had not destroyed the books, but as it happened they didn't have to do a thing. Except notify FFE of the violation. I'm not sure that counts as "enforcing" the license.

/M

 

[amethal]

I don't know of any. I suppose they prefer to operate in as friendly a way as possible.

The whole Fast Forwad thing is looking more and more like a publicity stunt by FFE the more I think about it. It worked on me - curiosity over the apparent infringements is the only reason I bought Rings of Power.

Mastering Iron Heroes includes alternative character advancement rules (which I though was a d20 no-no) but it doesn't look like anybody cares.

I suppose one sanction would be that if you rip off someone else's intellectual property in violation of the OGL then it makes if difficult to complain if other people return the favour.