Question about use of open gaming content

[Arkhandus]

For instance, if you used the psionic disciplines from the Psionics Handbook or Expanded Psionics Handbook, IIRC, the material you created based on those disciplines would have to be declared in the product as Open Game Content. If you used the basic psionic mechanics from one of those books but changed around the specifics (such as using things like Power Resistance, psionic displays, metapsionic feats, the psionic focus mechanic, the psionic Power Points mechanic, etc., but creating an entirely different selection of powers with different names and functions), you'd have to declare that derivative material as Open Game Content, because it's based on someone else's OGC. By using some of that OGC, or basing your work on it, you are essentially agreeing beforehand to waive ownership of whatever bits of rules material you developed which were based on that OGC. Other people will be able to republish those particular pieces of rules material that you created, and they won't have to seek your permission or pay you anything. However, as others have noted, certain things such as feat names, spell names, power names, monster names, and such, might be designated as non-OGC. You'll have to read the Open Gaming License and stuff carefully before using it, probably, to avoid any mishaps.

 

[Ranger REG]

I have questions for those of you that publish d20 material.
If company A releases something as Open Gaming Content, does Company B need to seek Company A's permission to use that OGC content or just list Company A in section 15?

Just list the necessary info (product, copyright date, author, publisher) in Section 15.

If you simply want to be courteous, you can notify Company A. Not mandatory, but it can go a long way.

Can Company A charge Company B for the use of OGC content?

Only if Company B does not intend to use the OGL. Without the OGL, the content in question is now simply copyrighted material and Company B must follow copyright law.

If Company B uses the OGL and use strictly designated OGC from Company A's product, Company A can't do nothing about it since they designated the content as OGC and anyone who follow the OGL abidingly can use said designated OGC.

See my disclaimer below...

 

[kingpaul]

based on OLG

Aussie, could you type it right? Its OGL (Open Game License), not OLG. Almost all, if not all, of your posts on this topic throughout these boards use OLG. Sorry for the nitpick, but the OGL has been out since 2000 now.

 

[Committed Hero]

Can you give some examples? I still don't seem to get it.

So if I make a system based on OLG, changing and adding some new elements then this is not copyrighted at all? :\

What's a mechanical element?

Is changing the system for say psionics from the SRD to a new system?

I gather adding some new cybernetics would be open.

So what stops a gamer from coping anothers new work, say Helio Rising Setting, is that not covered? (Not that I would ever do that!)

Say that I wanted to make a military-themed product, and really liked some of the feats that a previous poster has published. As long as these feats were designated as open content (and, looking at that portion of the license printed in the product, I can tell they are), I am free to use them. In turn, I must cite the source of these feats, and declare any open content in what I distribute.

The Helios Rising example doesn't work, because crucial setting information has not been declared open. You might be able to use character classes and feats from it - again, the key is to look at what the authors have listed as open. There have been quite a few publishers who actually took large portions of the (open) WotC rules and published it for sale.

 

[ZombieButch]

1) Keep it legal. You must include a copy of the OGL and cite your sources therein.
2) Be clear about what's what. You must state what content is open and what is closed. If you don't make this absolutely clear, you might find that folks are using your closed content under the assumption that's it's open, and that's no good for anyone involved.
3) Once it's out of the box, you can't put it back in. Any open content you use must remain open content; you can't declare it closed.
4) You can put new things in the box if you want. Any content you create wholly on your own can be open or closed; that choice is up to you entirely. (A fairly common practice is to make mechanics open content and setting/flavor material as product identity.)

 

[Goken100]

One of the items in the trademark FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/srdfaq/20040123b) seems to indicate that 5% of a covered product must be designated as Open Game Content.

What I don't understand about this is: Does that mean that original material must volunteer at least 5% to the body of OGC? Or does that mean that if at least 5% of my materials are composed of existing OGC, I'm set?

 

[Committed Hero]

One of the items in the trademark FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/srdfaq/20040123b) seems to indicate that 5% of a covered product must be designated as Open Game Content.

What I don't understand about this is: Does that mean that original material must volunteer at least 5% to the body of OGC? Or does that mean that if at least 5% of my materials are composed of existing OGC, I'm set?

I would assume, given the fact that folks have printed things entirely made of other writers' ideas, that the latter is correct. But I have often wondered that myself.

 

[Roudi]

Note that the trademark FAQ applies to the d20 System Trademark License, not the Open Gaming License. Anyone who wishes to competently continue this discussion would do well to learn the distinction between the d20 STL and the OGL.

 

[Aussiegamer]

OK I can set aside my own ideas but if the new stuff is a change to something then it stays OGL.

How do you say that all but OGL stuff is not open?

 

[Ranger REG]

OK I can set aside my own ideas but if the new stuff is a change to something then it stays OGL.

How do you say that all but OGL stuff is not open?

The Open Gaming License not only defines Open Game Content (or OGC), but also defines Product Identity (or PI). It also states that any designated PI and trademarks owned by someone else cannot be Used by others without permission from said owner.

Just make sure the content in question is not derived from previous OGC or anyone else's copyrighted material before you can designate as PI.

If you wish to identify them, do so either before or after identifying OGC. If you need help with the words, and this is serious advice when it comes to licensing, consult with a lawyer.