OGL What is to happen?

[DM-Rocco]

Alright, if I understand correctly, they will still have a 3.5 OGL as is from what I can tell.

I get confused about what is to happen regarding 4th edition though.

It looks like publishers can get a limited OGL for creating 4th edition material, from what I can tell. It looks to me that if you don't "purchase" an OGL from WOTC to print 4th edition material you will be labeled a "fan" publisher and be forced to submit work to Gleemax which WOTC will appearently have the right to publish as they please.

Am I understanding this right or did I miss something?

 

[Fifth Element]

Say what now?

The OGL will be free, always has been. No charge for the OGL or the SRD. No requirement to only publish at Gleemax.

There was some discussion of charging for the d20 STL, but that idea seems to be on the way out now.

At this point, looks like the situation will end up essentially the same as with 3rd edition.

 

[Maggan]

Am I understanding this right or did I miss something?

My understanding is this:

1. There will be an OGL for 4e with an SRD. It will be similar to the one we have now, and not require a payed license. Use this, publish anywhere.

2. There might be an additional license similar to the d20 license. Whether this will require a fee or not is still being discussed, but it seems as if it might not happen. Use this, publish anywhere.

3. There will be "areas" on Gleemax where you can publish D&D stuff that uses WotC IP. If you chose to publish there, it is my understanding that WotC will aquire the right to use your material automatically.

4. There will be other "areas" on Gleemax where you can publish your stuff and WotC can't touch it. Just adhere to copyright rules and whatnot, and you're set to go.

Plenty of options open to anyone who wants to create stuff for 4e.

/M

 

[DM-Rocco]

Say what now?

The OGL will be free, always has been. No charge for the OGL or the SRD. No requirement to only publish at Gleemax.

There was some discussion of charging for the d20 STL, but that idea seems to be on the way out now.

At this point, looks like the situation will end up essentially the same as with 3rd edition.

This is why I am concerned.

Open Gaming Licence
3rd party publishers will be able to get licenses to create 4e material from Wizards. (source)
Fans will be able to publish material on Gleemax under (free) license from Wizards. (This material will be available to Wizards to republish; see discussion on Gleemax TOS).
The OGL/SRD/d20 Licenses will still exist - details still to come (Source).

To me this means that publishers have to get a licenses to print 4th edition materials, fans have to print on Gleemax and their materials can be pillaged by WOTC at will and the current state of the OGL/SRD/d20 is up in the air.

I might be reading too much into it but that is not really my fault. I don't think WOTC has done a very good job about putting forth useful information concerning 4th edition. Too me most of it is just teasing us so we will talk and debate it for hours and hours building excitement and interest. Personally, that doesn't build interest for me though, it just annoys me.

So, do you think I am wrong or right? What have you seen elsewhere to counter this opinion?

 

[Fifth Element]

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=905801

 

[DM-Rocco]

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=905801

I thank you for the link, however I am at work and can't take the time to read 7 pages of threads. I did read some though, and from what I can tell on the first page, it is mainly people begging to have an OGL, not really an official WOTC rep saying, "Dont' worry boys, nothing will change."

I'll check it out further later tonight, but in the mean time, I don't count that as a source to dispute the claim.

 

[Yair]

[Forgive me if some of this is obvious, but it seems worth noting]

The OGL is a license that allows anyone to publish material based on the SRD published by Wizards, for free and without charge or need of permission. There is now an OGL and SRD for 3.5e (and 3.0e), so anyone can use it (and many do). There will be an OGL and SRD released for 4e, so people could publish material compatible with and building on it. This was stated by WotC (in the thread linked to above).

The d20STL (d20 System Trademark License) allows you to publish a work that includes the words "Requires the use of Dungeons & Dragons" on the cover (you normally can't use the words "Dungeons & Dragons", as they're a trademark, even with the OGL), as well as a few other benefits. Like the OGL, anyone can use it for free and without needing to ask for permission, but it includes lots of restrictions on what you can and can't publish. (For example, you may not publish rules on how to make characters, you can't have art showing nipples, and so on.) This license can only be used for 3.5e (or 3.0e) materials at the moment.

Whether a license similar to the d20STL will be released for 4e is a mystery. My divinations indicate that instead of a free-for-all lincense like the d20STL, Wizards will invite key publishers, offering them the license. Others won't be able to claim compatibility with the Dungeons & Dragons game (even though they would be compatible).

Neither the OGL nor the d20STL allows you to publish works based on Wizard's other intellectual property, like say the Forgotten Realms. However, Wizards will grant anyone the right to post such work on Gleemax. Once posted, Wizards will have the right to use it in any way they choose, however - you get to post about their worlds and content, they get to use it as they wish. Note that right now, barring a word from Wizards to the contrary, even posting a story-hour of your adventures in the Forgotten Realms is, technically, illegal. Gleemax will provide you with a legal channel to publish such works.

 

[Bacris]

There will be an OGL and SRD released for 4e, so people could publish material compatible with and building on it. This was stated by WotC (in the thread linked to above)

Just so it doesn't get drowned out

 

[DonTadow]

I hope so. The d and d product i watered down by allowing and bloke to publish "official" product. A fee and regulations will prevent a lot of bad stuff (not all). Worked for Nintendo in the BG market and is now a staple of the inudstry.

 

[Bacris]

A fee and regulations will prevent a lot of bad stuff (not all).

Again, Scott Rouse has publicly stated that a fee-based system for any sort of industry-wide license, such as the d20 standard license, is likely NOT going to happen due to feedback WotC has received.