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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnRTroy" data-source="post: 4030872" data-attributes="member: 2732">The "point" of the OGL seems to be different depending on who you ask.  Depending on who you ask, it was a method of licensing the D&D rules, the ability to share everything for free, the ability to improve, etc.  That's how weird it is--some people put the emphasis on how open it is, some people are concerned about D&D compatibility, etc.The OGL is a game license, that is owned and copyrighted by Wizards.  Most of the people who argue about the existence of the OGL are using the core rules from D&D.  So 3e is relevant.  Why do you think people are so mad about the OGL not being used by Wizards for 4e.  I've contributed in several threads mind you.  You seem to think that just because my opinion is unpopular here it is invalid.  The only reason this particular thread is active is because of the license announcement.I'm not a defender of Wizards all the time.  I don't think the radical revamp of the Forgotten Realms is a good idea.  I think they've made mistakes from marketing.  I think that the statement that playtesters shouldn't make negative comments about 4e is dumb and I get a different vibe from this.  I think the 90's legal threats from TSR were wrong.  I wish they would release "abandoned" property.I hate some abuses of Trademark, Patents, and Copyrights.  I dislike it when individuals get screwed.  But I also dislike the new meme where "information wants to be free", the passive-aggressive stance that "you can't put the genie back in the bottle", etc.  Some people are jumping on me for bringing up ethics and morals as well.  Well, I'm sorry if it sounds arrogant, but I believe certain things are wrong, and that there is an objective morality, which the law may or may not agree with.  Is it legally okay for somebody to create an SRD from somebody else's contributions.  Yes.  Is it right?  Well...the biggest disconnect is that the license says this is possible, and then you get people who think it's sleazy when you "rip" that stuff, against people who quote the license and say "it's allowed and you should expect it".  Maybe I'm trying to make people think that their actions have consequences.I personally think the OGL was a too permissive license, and I'm hoping that the new license is popular enough and protects the rights of creators derivative works.  I don't want some of the freedoms to go away, but I don't mind if some of what I consider the more blatant rip-offs are destroyed.  I see nothing wrong with having a "morals clause", a "right to revoke",  etc.  This is still a license of the other game, and I think they should have more restrictions.Everybody is jumping on Wizards thinking they're gonna shut all creativity down.  Why not wait and see what the license allows.  If the new license is really bad, I'll definately condemn it.</blockquote>

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