Publishers & Products that don't update section 15 of the OGL...

[Cergorach]

Is it just me or is:

<snip>
All game mechanics and statistics derivative of Open Game Content and the System Reference Document are to be considered Open Gaming Content. All other significant characters, names, places, items, art and text herein are copyrighted by Mongoose Publishing. All rights reserved. If you have any questions on the Open Game Content of this product please contact Mongoose Publishing.
<snip>

Also a violation of the OGL?

<snip>
3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.
<snip>
8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
<snip>

What i find strange is that in the past MG did it correctly (designating clearly what was OGC).
This is in:
MGP1004 - Encyclopedia Arcane: Constructs
MGP1005 - Encyclopedia Arcane: Battle Magic
MGP0007 - Slayer's Guide to: Bugbears

I know that some others do something similar, but this is a regression, from resonable to bad, in following the OGL...

 

[JohnNephew]

It's funny, I was in the game store yesterday and looking at the Mongoose books and noticed the same thing.

Perhaps they saw that others were using the vague "if it has to be OGC then it is OGC, and the the rest isn't" (and leave it to the reader to figure it out) without any apparent problem, and figured they should too?

What's odd is that it must ALL be their copyright, OGC or not -- and especially the OGC, because if they don't have the copyright (or are not reproducing someone else's OGC), they don't have the authority to contribute it, right?

 

[trancejeremy]

I don't mean to pick on Green Ronin (or Pinnacle for that matter), it's just I have more products from those two companies than any other d20 company (other than WOTC, and they don't have to follow the rules ).

 

[Cergorach]

Oops! After reading the D20 Liscence again i realize that there does need to be some cause for WotC to revoke the Liscence. But as there are very few books out there that actually conform to the OGL D20L it's very simple for WotC to revoke the Liscence of an established publisher...

As for the OGL taking presedence of Copyright Law, i don't exactly know how things are in the US, but around here (netherlands) a Liscence cannot restrict the rights of people already covered in the Law. Thus as people cannot copyright rules, the OGL shouldn't be allowed to restrict people in that way. I can't make a contract that effectively says that you will work for me for 1 dollar/hour for 24/7 for the rest of your life (even if you sign it when your dead drunk).

IMHO the OGL is claiming authority where it doesn't have any authority. I'm curious if and when people will go to court over this...

 

[Orcus]

Cer-

Parties are free to restrict themselves by such licenses. Your employment example is not a similar situation legally to the OGL situation. These types of licenses are common.

Clark

 

[Cergorach]

Cer-

Dont know how to put this nicely (sorry). Your opinion is 100% incorrect. Parties are free to restrict themselves by such licenses. Your employment example is not a similar situation legally to the OGL situation. I post this only to make sure casual readers arent confused and dont think Cer might be correct.

Clark

@Clark:[/i/
I don't mind bluntless, i just hate it when people say that i'm an idiot (they're probably right but don't explain themselves. Atleast you didn't call me an idiot ;-)

That's exactly why i said that i don't know how those things work for folks in the US. I'm pretty certain that around here (netherlands) contracts can't take away rights granted by the law (there are fare to many stoopid people around that don't read contracts before they sign them). Example: By Law we are allowed x days (where x is eight i believe, but am not sure) to return non consumable goods to the place we bought them. A lot of stores have signs that say that the goods can't be returned, they can have signs that say that, but if going to court the consumer always wins. There for i'm deducting/guessing (because i'm NOT a lawyer) that the same thing is also true fro Liscences. But then again you come across the fact that the Liscence is given in a country where such rules don't apply, i also don't exactly know how international law works in that regard, are the laws in the originating country the 'law' or the laws in the country where the Liscence is used. Any thoughts on that Clark (maybe an oppertunity to educate us poor lost souls ;-)?

Btw, are you also an expert on dutch law and/or international law? If so what are your rates...

 

[Horacio]

Hey, Cer, I cannot be 100% sure, but I bet Clark didn't want to be blunt or call you idiot. I think he only wanted to say that in the US the things aren't like in ol' Europe. Here in the Old World, the state is more a 'father', it protect us more than there, where capitalism is more a way of life anbd laws can be ruthless. So, IMHO, we cannot extrapolate our laws or rights to the US.

Of course, IANAL, and it's only my opinion.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

That's right, shortly after birth our babies are left stranded in the woods with nothing to survive on but their wits and an IPO.

 

[Horacio]

That's right, shortly after birth our babies are left stranded in the woods with nothing to survive on but their wits and an IPO.

Yes, I've always heard that in the Americans treat their children worse than orcs...

 

[Walter_J]

Yes, I've always heard that in the Americans treat their children worse than orcs...

There may very well be a parallel there, considering the 3E MM made orcs hill billies with Big Axes ; ) At least they took the firearms away...