The OGL 1.1 is not an Open License

[FrogReaver]

There is a distinct difference between versions of a license and new products. I don't really get what you are saying here.

Nor do I have any clue what you are confused about here.

 

[Art Waring]

If section 9 is included and they call it a new version then one would be safe to release OGC 1.1 content under OGL 1.0 as far as I can tell.

However if they call it a new license instead of a new version it’s not as clear if legally that designation would hold up.

I'm not talking about what you can do with OGC, that has already been covered.

Again, you are taking it at face value, they are currently using the name "1.1 OGL" to avoid comparisons to the failure that is the 4e GSL.

If you look at the wording of the 1.1 OGL, it is very similar to the 4e GSL, almost too similar. To avoid an upset. they are using the OGL title and framing to release an altered version of the license.

The most likely reason for this is to disguise the fact that the new license is restrictive when the previous one was completely open.

 

[FrogReaver]

I'm not talking about what you can do with OGC, that has already been covered.

Again, you are taking it at face value, they are currently using the name "1.1 OGL" to avoid comparisons to the failure that is the 4e GSL.

If you look at the wording of the 1.1 OGL, it is very similar to the 4e GSL, almost too similar. To avoid an upset. they are using the OGL title and framing to release an altered version of the license.

The most likely reason for this is to disguise the fact that the new license is restrictive when the previous one was completely open.

It doesn’t matter. If OGL 1.1 is a version and includes section 9 then you can use OGL 1.0 for OGC material released under OGL 1.1.

If there goal was to make a 4e style GSL and they do this then they have failed.

 

[Reynard]

If you look at the wording of the 1.1 OGL

We don't have the wording of OGL 1.1. We have a press release. We won't have the text to that document for years, maybe well after the 1D&D launch. Whether it is a new version of the OGL or a new license probably won't be decided by WotC's lawyers for a long time yet.

So anyone explaining exactly what and how it is, is overreaching at least.

 

[Alzrius]

We won't have the text to that document for years, maybe well after the 1D&D launch.

Didn't the press release say they'd be releasing the OGL v1.1 in early 2023?

 

[Art Waring]

We don't have the wording of OGL 1.1. We have a press release. We won't have the text to that document for years, maybe well after the 1D&D launch. Whether it is a new version of the OGL or a new license probably won't be decided by WotC's lawyers for a long time yet.

So anyone explaining exactly what and how it is, is overreaching at least.

But we do have information from the press release that is very similar to the 4e GSL. That has already been pointed out previously in the thread.

Yes we don't know the final wording yet, until the release in 2023, but their initial information is pointing towards a more restrictive license.

 

[Morrus]

We don't have the wording of OGL 1.1. We have a press release. We won't have the text to that document for years, maybe well after the 1D&D launch.

Early 2023. We'll have it very soon.

 

[Reynard]

Early 2023. We'll have it very soon.

I missed that. Thanks.

My question, then, is why. The SRD won't be out until 1D&D drops at the earliest, right? Are they going to start releasing playtest material under OGL 1.1? That doesn't make sense if it is actually playtest material, since it is expected and intended to change.

What's the motivation for releasing the new OGL a full year or more in advance of the material it covers? Just to give 3PP a chance to comment?

 

[mamba]

Except you are taking it at face value, but just think about this for a second...

Given the past history of the 4e GSL, and the failure of 4th edition, do you really think they would outright state that this is a new restrictive GSL license? They are using the framing of the old OGL, combined with the GSL wording, to create a new restrictive license, it doesn't matter that the word "open" is in the title because it is the opposite of an open license.

Yeah, that doesn’t work for me, because if you call something OGL + higher version number then it is a newer version of the OGL and not something else, so have fun trying to argue your case in court and not being laughed out of it

 

[Alzrius]

What's the motivation for releasing the new OGL a full year or more in advance of the material it covers? Just to give 3PP a chance to comment?

It's entirely possible. The GSL was revised less than a year after its release because of negative feedback; maybe WotC is intent on testing the waters by releasing a more restrictive version of the OGL v1.1 early, to see how much push-back they'll get.