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.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The relevant quote is "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."

That's pretty much the text this whole debate revolves around. And we really won't get an answer until Wizards goes through with their madness and tries to take someone to court over it (or someone takes them to court).

Or they kill the OGL 1.1 completely, which I suspect they will now. I mean it was supposed to be released yesterday and yet still not officially released. I suspect no one saying anything right now because WotC and Hasbro are in utter chaos with lot of infighting over this.

 

[Alzrius]

Or they kill the OGL 1.1 completely, which I suspect they will now. I mean it was supposed to be released yesterday and yet still not officially released.

My understanding is that it's supposed to be released a week from today.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

My understanding is that it's supposed to be released a week from today.

No it was supposed to have been released on the 4th, but only giving publishers till January 14th to sign onto the 1.1 OGL. So they have a very tight timeline built in to do this OGL and the longer they don't release it, the more likely it's dead already.

 

[Art Waring]

My understanding is that it's supposed to be released a week from today.

A statement was supposed to be released on the 4th, when the NDA's all expired, and they were expected to make an announcement but they didn't in light of the leak.

The leak states the cutoff date for the 1.0a to be on the 13th of January, giving people a little over a week to do either sign or find another solution.

Its been two days since the 4th, and still no official statement.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

A statement was supposed to be released on the 4th, when the NDA's all expired, and they were expected to make an announcement but they didn't in light of the leak.

The leak states the cutoff date for the 1.0a to be on the 13th of January, giving people a little over a week to do either sign or find another solution.

Its been two days since the 4th, and still no official statement.

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

 

[UngainlyTitan]

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

Yup negotiations are ongoing but delicate.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Yup negotiations are ongoing but delicate.

I agree... that there is delicate work being done as we speak

 

[Ruin Explorer]

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

If NDAs really expired, someone would be talking. This industry is full of loudmouths, show-offs, and people with questionable professionalism, as well as lots of better people. The NDA's end date doesn't have to be a specific date, though - it could be until some condition is met.

 

[humble minion]

If NDAs really expired, someone would be talking. This industry is full of loudmouths, show-offs, and people with questionable professionalism, as well as lots of better people. The NDA's end date doesn't have to be a specific date, though - it could be until some condition is met.

I suspect that the people who WotC chose to invite to sign the NDAs are more likely to slant towards the more professional side of the community though.

Everyone who signed the NDA has a LOT to lose. Not just personally if WotC sues them for violating it, but also in terms of the OGL itself if WotC decides that their 3pp discussion partners aren't operating in good faith and to just damn the torpedoes, scrap the consultation process and push ahead with 1.1. And yes, I'm aware of the irony of WotC right now accusing ANYONE else of lacking good faith, but I don't think the rapacious leeches who came up with this whole idea will care about that one little bit.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Yup negotiations are ongoing but delicate.

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.