Question about OGL

[ChimericDream]

So I was just reading through the Open Game License to make sure it's correct on my site, and I had a question.

Assuming I purchase a book/pdf/whatever that has been written (or someone purchases something I've written), and the OGL statement at the beginning of the work lists the mechanics and stat blocks as Open Game Content, does that imply permission for someone to reprint said content in their own work? I realize that the copyright section of the new product's OGL would need to include anything from the copyright section of the work the original content came from, but is it allowed?

Looking at the way the OGL is written, it looks like this sort of thing is allowed, and I was wondering if there was any way around this... meaning if I create something that I designate as OGC, can I require someone to get permission from me before they reprint it? Seems like a technically allowed, but slightly frowned upon, result of the OGL to me.

On a similar note, if I reprint stats for a monster that have been designated OGC, assuming I've gotten permission from a publisher and listed them in Section 15 of my OGL, is it alright? This seems to me to be the original intent of the OGL.

I hope all this makes sense. I feel like I've rambled a little, so if anything needs clarifying, let me know.

 

[Storyteller01]

Green Ronin's Arcana: Societies Of Magic and FFG's Path's of Faith have identical avatar templates. Not sure if they are the same company. If not, that may be your answer.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Open content is open, like the source code for Linux.

All you have to do to meet the requirements of the license is credit the original source. You don't have to ask the source's permission. Nor can you explicitly require someone to get your permission to use your open content; if you did, it would by definition no longer be open.

That's not to say a lot of publishers won't get your permission or at least let you know; they may get free advertising by linking your product and theirs, so they'll want to inform you in the hopes you'll give them a link or whatnot.

On the flip side, you can 'cripple' your open content by making only parts usable. For example, by making 'capitalized names of spells, feats and creatures' product identity, and then capitalizing all the names, you force someone to either rename everything or come to you for permission to use the content. Far more likely, however, is that your content will simply not be reused. This practice is at least slightly frowned upon.

 

[Gilwen]

So I was just reading through the Open Game License to make sure it's correct on my site, and I had a question.
Assuming I purchase a book/pdf/whatever that has been written (or someone purchases something I've written), and the OGL statement at the beginning of the work lists the mechanics and stat blocks as Open Game Content, does that imply permission for someone to reprint said content in their own work? I realize that the copyright section of the new product's OGL would need to include anything from the copyright section of the work the original content came from, but is it allowed?

Looking at the way the OGL is written, it looks like this sort of thing is allowed, and I was wondering if there was any way around this... meaning if I create something that I designate as OGC, can I require someone to get permission from me before they reprint it? Seems like a technically allowed, but slightly frowned upon, result of the OGL to me.

On a similar note, if I reprint stats for a monster that have been designated OGC, assuming I've gotten permission from a publisher and listed them in Section 15 of my OGL, is it alright? This seems to me to be the original intent of the OGL.

I hope all this makes sense. I feel like I've rambled a little, so if anything needs clarifying, let me know.

It does more than imply it out right grants them permission. Anything that you declare or is derivitive of OGC can be used by anyone for anything, it can be included verbatium or it could be reworked. This why you have to be careful when delcaring your content, but just to be clear anything that is derivitive of OGC HAS to remain OGC unless you license it from the creator separately.

The reason that you can not require that anyone get permission for reuse is because you have already given them permission through the license. If the thing in question is truly your own creation and is not derivitive of any OGC then you don't have to claim that as OGC but could include it as PI and then they would have to get permission to use it.

Gil

 

[Gilwen]

Just curious, are you opposed to people reusing your work?

Gil

 

[Ranger REG]

Just curious, are you opposed to people reusing your work?

Not a professional game designer, but if I designate a game mechanic (with instructions for using it) as OGC, then I shouldn't be mad about people reusing something that I let others use (under the license).

The only thing I'm concerned is the unauthorized use of closed content or PI.

 

[Gilwen]

absolutely, I'm in agreement with you.

Gil

 

[ChimericDream]

I'm not at all opposed to people using my work, and I would in fact be proud to see it published in other places (as right now, it's only on my site). However, I was just observing that the closest people are required to come to credit/permission/whatever is a brief mention in the OGL of the product. This discussion has reinforced what I was pretty sure I knew.

From a personal standpoint, I would, of course, hope that anyone wanting to use content of mine in their product would at least let me know in advance. That's the main point of my post. So I guess a second question (which could be its own post altogether) would be directed at publishers, and that is, "Do you let people know in advance if/when you plan to use their work (or derivatives) in your products?"

Thanks all for the responses.

 

[SteveC]

One of the more amusing things about the OGL is that it actually forbids you from mentioning the origin of the content outside of your Section 15. This is one of the most frequent problems for using the Wound/Vitality rules, because many designers start off by writing "the Wound/Vitality rules first appeared in the Star Wars game." The thing is, that's actually against the rules!

This part of the OGL has always seemed very silly to me. If I'm producing a product, and I use some of Ronin Arts or RPGObjects open content, I want to call out that fact, because I would hope that it would make the reader say, "hey, I like this rule, I want to check out the stuff from these other guys because I bet they have other cool stuff there too!" It seems like not only good ethics (properly cite sources) but also good business practice as well. Yet it's not allowed by the license.

Of course, you can always contact the original company and ask for permission, but at that point you're starting to lose that "Open" part of the license.

Just my opinion, of course...

--Steve

 

[Ranger REG]

One of the more amusing things about the OGL is that it actually forbids you from mentioning the origin of the content outside of your Section 15. This is one of the most frequent problems for using the Wound/Vitality rules, because many designers start off by writing "the Wound/Vitality rules first appeared in the Star Wars game." The thing is, that's actually against the rules!

Well, you're not supposed to that without permission, and the most likely answer you'll receive from WotC and/or Lucasfilm is "no."

You COULD get WotC's permission to reference the VP/WP system from Unearthed Arcana.

I know you have the best of intention (i.e., promoting a product), but you don't do it without securing their permission.

It's like you're coming into my room to bathe me. Though you have perfect intention, you do not have permission to touch me in the first place.