How to use the OGL

[Morrus]

On the A5ESRD site I am putting together a simple 'how-to' page for using the OGL (I'll do one for CC later). I want this to be a helpful reference for people new to the concept.

It's very much a work in progress. IT IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Feedback would be welcomed--either things which aren't clear, or things which are incorrect.

How-To — Advanced 5E System Reference Document

a5esrd.com

 

[MarkB]

While I get that you want to keep them separate, I think a lot of people will be interested in how the OGL and CC can interact, and the pros and cons of publishing works under both licenses.

 

[Morrus]

While I get that you want to keep them separate, I think a lot of people will be interested in how the OGL and CC can interact, and the pros and cons of publishing works under both licenses.

One thing at a time.

 

[Vivificient]

Section 2 of the OGL says, "This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use."

This is separate from the requirement to include a copy of the license. So apart from the license text itself, it looks like there is a requirement to write something like: "This product contains Open Game Content, which may only be used under and in the terms of the Open Game License (see below)."

That said, I haven't always been able to find this notice in published products. I'm not sure if people miss it, or if they feel it's implicitly fulfilled by including the license text and a statement of which content in the product is Open Game Content.

 

[smetzger]

Section 2 of the OGL says, "This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use."

This is separate from the requirement to include a copy of the license. So apart from the license text itself, it looks like there is a requirement to write something like: "This product contains Open Game Content, which may only be used under and in the terms of the Open Game License (see below)."

That said, I haven't always been able to find this notice in published products. I'm not sure if people miss it, or if they feel it's implicitly fulfilled by including the license text and a statement of which content in the product is Open Game Content.

 

[smetzger]

This means you have to clearly indicate what is Open Game Content, even if it is OGC that you did not create and are using.

 

[Reynard]

On the A5ESRD site I am putting together a simple 'how-to' page for using the OGL (I'll do one for CC later). I want this to be a helpful reference for people new to the concept.

It's very much a work in progress. IT IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Feedback would be welcomed--either things which aren't clear, or things which are incorrect.

How-To — Advanced 5E System Reference Document

a5esrd.com

Thank you for highlighting the fact that the intent is that mechanics are OGC. Too many publishers have tried to "cheat" by calling mechanics they derived from the SRD PI. It goes against the intent of the OGL at least.

 

[smetzger]

On the A5ESRD site I am putting together a simple 'how-to' page for using the OGL (I'll do one for CC later). I want this to be a helpful reference for people new to the concept.

It's very much a work in progress. IT IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Feedback would be welcomed--either things which aren't clear, or things which are incorrect.

How-To — Advanced 5E System Reference Document

a5esrd.com

That's pretty good. I would emphasis that people should make sure that they do not include anything that has been designated as PI in their product. So... no Mind Flayer.... but could describe them in your own words... "tentacled faced aliens that eat brains"

 

[Morrus]

That's pretty good. I would emphasis that people should make sure that they do not include anything that has been designated as PI in their product.

It literally says that.

 

[Staffan]

That said, I haven't always been able to find this notice in published products. I'm not sure if people miss it, or if they feel it's implicitly fulfilled by including the license text and a statement of which content in the product is Open Game Content.

When it's there, it's usually in a statement on the credits page or thereabouts, along with other legalese. This is often not the same place where the OGL is. But you're right that it's a thing that's often missed – or at least it was in the early days. I don't know if 3PPs in general have gotten better at it.

As an example, here's how the Book of Experimental Might does it:

This legal notice is on page 1, and the OGL is on page 84.