Statement on OGL from WotC

Wizards of the Coast has made a short statement regarding the ongoing rumors surrounding OneD&D and the Open Gaming License. In a short response to Comicbook.com, the company said "We will continue to support the thousands of creators making third-party D&D content with the release of One D&D in 2024. While it is certain our Open Game License (OGL) will continue to evolve, just as it has since its inception, we're too early in the development of One D&D to give more specifics on the OGL or System Reference Document (SRD) at this time."

Dungeons & Dragons Clarifies Support for Third-Party Material as New Edition Draws Near

Wizards of the Coast has responded to rumors of changes to the Open Game License and System [...]

comicbook.com

It's not clear what WotC means when they say that the OGL will 'continue to evolve' -- while there have been two versions of the license released over the years, each is non-rescindible so people are free to use whichever version of the license they wish. Indeed, that is written into the license itself -- "Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License."

During the D&D 4th Edition era, WotC published a new, separate license called the Game System Licence (GSL). While it was used by third party publishers, it was generally upopular.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

More likely 1.1 is dead and they are discussing the best way to extract themselves from this disaster. WotC can see the current tidal wave of nerd rage coming their way from all sides.

Plus there could be a lot of internal politics going on at Hasbro with finger pointing and so on going on.

I bloody hope that's what's happening!

 

[Nikosandros]

I bloody hope that's what's happening!

I hope so as well. I'm not terribly optimistic about it, but I don't consider it impossible.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I bloody hope that's what's happening!

There is a timer on this thing and the longer it takes for WotC to release the 1.1 OGL the more likely it's dead. They have a deadline of the 14th, but more likely given they have to give folks some kind of time a week at least so if it's not released by Monday it's toast, or at least this disgusting version is.

 

[Art Waring]

More likely 1.1 is dead and they are discussing the best way to extract themselves from this disaster

I most certainly hope so.

I'm still taking Morrus' advice and laying out a mini booklet all about my zombie variants to release for free as OGC under the 1.0a OGL before the deadline.

 

[Alzrius]

I'm still taking Morrus' advice and laying out a mini booklet all about my zombie variants to release for free as OGC under the 1.oa OGL before the deadline.

Same. I'm planning to re-release some Open Game Content that I wrote for a now-defunct webzine on my blog over the weekend, just to be safe.

 

[Maxperson]

If NDAs expired and no one is talking openly that may mean something

Yeah. It means that the NDA didn't expire on the 4th unless it was released.

There's no way that no one would be talking if it expired a few days ago without an actual release.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

.1More likely 1.1 is dead and they are discussing the best way to extract themselves from this disaster. WotC can see the current tidal wave of nerd rage coming their way from all sides.

Plus there could be a lot of internal politics going on at Hasbro with finger pointing and so on going on.

1.1 as we understand it is possibly dead but if they keep it essentially the same but make it "opt in" and reassure the community that they are not going to try to break the existing OGL.
Then the situation is recoverable. That said, being a fly on the wall at meetings now could be fun.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

1.1 as we understand it is possibly dead

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

 

[mamba]

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

but I'd take it

 

[Alzrius]

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

Hey, it got the GSL changed. Not very much, and it was ultimately too little too late, but it still produced a change.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

I am sure it helped but the failure to release the licence when promised is indicative that something is up.

 

[Micah Sweet]

More likely 1.1 is dead and they are discussing the best way to extract themselves from this disaster. WotC can see the current tidal wave of nerd rage coming their way from all sides.

Plus there could be a lot of internal politics going on at Hasbro with finger pointing and so on going on.

I would very much like that to be true.

 

[Staffan]

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

There's the nerd rage online, and then there's likely pushback from the 3PPs they've been talking to as well.

 

[GracefulBreath]

Fascinating that it's "too early in development" to give information on the OGL but just last month the dndbeyond OGL post said

We will release version 1.1 of the OGL in early 2023

 

[Greg K]

Some publishers are already turning away from WOTC and D&D over this. The lady from Arcane Library posted that she is now updating a product that was to go to Kickstarter in February from OGL to another license.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

There's the nerd rage online, and then there's likely pushback from the 3PPs they've been talking to as well.

They are being slammed in the MSM as well like IGN. Oh heck even their Spokes woman for D&D One, Ginny Di is opposed to OGL 1.1! Said so on Twitter.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Iff all it takes is a nerd rage backlash on line to change corp policy that had to go through marketing legal and most likely more... I will be shocked

It's all it took for WotC to fold in the face of the Dragonlance lawsuit, they saw fans were pissed and folded, settling out of court, giving Tracy and Maraget what they wanted, for WotC not to breach the contract made with them.

They really need better lawyers who will tell the bosses the truth instead of what they want to hear.

 

[Greg K]

They are being slammed in the MSM as well like IGN. Oh heck even their Spokes woman for D&D One, Ginny Di is opposed to OGL 1.1! Said so on Twitter.

It is like there is no institutional memory over at WOTC and, thus, Hasbro regarding the 4e GSL ....

 

[ersatzphil]

I most certainly hope so.

I'm still taking Morrus' advice and laying out a mini booklet all about my zombie variants to release for free as OGC under the 1.0a OGL before the deadline.

What was Morrus' advice?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

It's all it took for WotC to fold in the face of the Dragonlance lawsuit, they saw fans were pissed and folded, settling out of court, giving Tracy and Maraget what they wanted, for WotC not to breach the contract made with them.

Do you have any evidence that this is what happened, or is this just speculation?

They really need better lawyers who will tell the bosses the truth instead of what they want to hear.

Again, baseless speculation.