How about a deadline to WotC?

[justanobody]

You gotta give something in exchange. It's not a free gift - it's a contract, where both parties give something. WotC gives this powerful brand name, in exchange for which you give up certain rights. You're not forced to sign that contract; but if you think it's worth it to you, you will.

And I refuse to give control of the English language to WotC, or conform to their ideals of what my IP should be. They control their IP, not mine. They are asking WAY too much for those names and things that are in public domain.

Fortunately, the wealth of legal jurisdiction disagrees with you. A contract is legal as long as it doesn't require any criminal act.

This will only be proven true AFTER the GSL has be involved in a court case.

You're free to do all that. You just don't get to slap a shiny D&D logo on your product. I'm a pubisher with a vested financial interest in this, and I think that's perfectly fair.

The thing is you don't have to have a financial interest, it just happens that you do. I could not create a fan product with the D&D logo because it tells me what I have to use as definitions for public domain terms. That is where the thing falls flat.

What you should be giving up is the right to create your own game based on the IP of WotC, that the OGL allowed; but not your right to create anything else for the game just because WotC wants to circumvent your rights to those public domain terms.

How much actual control of those public domain terms do you give up? What rights do you retain for other things in regards to those public domain terms?

What you have below is a little part of that, but other than the OGL, are you giving up your rights to use those public domain terms in other things just because you have signed this GSL?

The only thing stopping me signing it is the "trash all your OGL stuff" clause. Can't afford to do that.

That just makes me want to kick someone in the nuts! You are rightfully so to be offended by that section because it is a slap in the face not only to publishers, but consumers as well.

All hail WotC gods of all gaming and bow to their whims.

It just makes me want to listen to the convention meeting where someone recorded the closed session between WotC and 3PP discussing the OGL/STL and what was coming and the things Bill S. said and got mad at the 3PP because they didn't just blindly accept WotC telling them what to think.

I don't recall a pleasant thing said on either side from that meeting, but seemed everyone left unhappy. Wish I knew if I still had that or where to find it again!

 

[Fifth Element]

And I refuse to give control of the English language to WotC, or conform to their ideals of what my IP should be. They control their IP, not mine. They are asking WAY too much for those names and things that are in public domain.

They can ask for whatever they want. If you don't like it, don't use the GSL. And it's not that they're asserting some right over public domain terms, as you seem to think. It's just a term of the contract: if you use the contract, you agree to use these terms to mean these specific things, and nothing else, in the product covered by the GSL.

What you should be giving up is the right to create your own game based on the IP of WotC, that the OGL allowed; but not your right to create anything else for the game just because WotC wants to circumvent your rights to those public domain terms.

You're free to use those terms any way you like, as long as it's not a product published under the GSL. No rights are being taken away.

What you have below is a little part of that, but other than the OGL, are you giving up your rights to use those public domain terms in other things just because you have signed this GSL?

Um, no. Like I said they are not asserting rights over terms like "human". They are requiring you to use the terms in a specific way in a product if you want to use the GSL. That is all.

That just makes me want to kick someone in the nuts! You are rightfully so to be offended by that section because it is a slap in the face not only to publishers, but consumers as well.

At least you're thinking about it rationally. Give us a break.

All hail WotC gods of all gaming and bow to their whims.

Yes, they really should be letting us use their trademark without us having to give them anything. Really, what are they thinking?

 

[joethelawyer]

Fortunately, the welath of legal jurisdiction disagrees with you. A contract is legal as long as it doesn't require any criminal act.
.

the question is not whether it is legal or not, it is whether it is legally binding. and that has nothing to do with criminal acts in this context.

 

[tsadkiel]

I could not create a fan product with the D&D logo because it tells me what I have to use as definitions for public domain terms. That is where the thing falls flat.

You couldn't do that anyway. The logo is a trademark.

 

[Morrus]

And I refuse to give control of the English language to WotC, or conform to their ideals of what my IP should be. They control their IP, not mine. They are asking WAY too much for those names and things that are in public domain.

OK, so basically someone ha ssomehting for sale, and you think the price is too high?

That's fine. Happens every day. Just don't take them up on the offer.

But the anger at them daring to try to sell something to you at a price you don't want to pay? That's not justified. Do you wander round shops ranting at them because some things have less value value to you than the price they're asking?

That just makes me want to kick someone in the nuts! You are rightfully so to be offended by that section because it is a slap in the face not only to publishers, but consumers as well.

I'm not offended by it. I'm running a business. The cost of that product (the D&D logo) is currently too high for me. I have no business being offended.

All hail WotC gods of all gaming and bow to their whims.

That sarcasm is not necessary. It's their IP. They can attach whatever price to it they like. You can agree to pay the price or not, depending whether you think it's a good deal.

It's like buying a car. I, at present, feel the car is too expensive; so I'm keeping my old one. If they reduce the price, I might buy it.

I'm not mad at the car company for not giving me a free car, though.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

This is why I say the OGL fostered a sense of "entitlement" among its fans.

 

[justanobody]

It's like buying a car. I, at present, feel the car is too expensive; so I'm keeping my old one. If they reduce the price, I might buy it.

I'm not mad at the car company for not giving me a free car, though.

But don't advertise one car, give its price as guaranteed, then when I get there jack it up 20%. Thee is a term or two for that I think.

The problem is they are giving you a free car, but telling you you can only drive it on the interstate. So how do you get it home?

 

[Morrus]

But don't advertise one car, give its price as guaranteed, then when I get there jack it up 20%. Thee is a term or two for that I think.

Huh? What are you talking about? Who's done what, now?

Did they, like, call you up, tell you the GSL said one thing, forced you to drive all the way to Seattle to sign it, only to find it said another?

You really need to think about this.

The problem is they are giving you a free car, but telling you you can only drive it on the interstate. So how do you get it home?

So? It's a free car. Take it and don't drive it on whatever an insterstate is, or don't take it. They don't owe you a free car. There's nothing wrong with someone offering you a free car that has somehting wrong with it.

Man, remind me never to buy you a beer! I couldn't live with the recriminations afterwards!

 

[Jack99]

The problem is they are giving you a free car, but telling you you can only drive it on the interstate. So how do you get it home?

They aren't giving you anything. They are saying that IF you want a free car, you can only drive on the interstate. It's still up to you if you want to buy that free BMW or go buy a use Ford elsewhere.

You still have a choice. What's the problem, aside from the fact that some people feel they should get the free BMW and be able to do whatever they want with it?

 

[thecasualoblivion]

You still have a choice. What's the problem, aside from the fact that some people feel they should get the free BMW and be able to do whatever they want with it?

That is the problem. People have been spoiled by the OGL, and they want their cake and being able to eat it too.