The ORC License and Publisher Restrictions

[overgeeked]

This really does look like they've overstepped their bounds with regards to the ORC license to the point where they themselves may be in violation of it, thus potentially rescinding their ability to use it.

If that’s the case, the question becomes: what happens to BRP, QW, and all the content based on the assumption they were covered by the ORC? Were they released under the license and people are free to use them but Chaosium in no longer allowed to somehow or because this violates the license the games are then retroactively pulled from the license. Yeah, this is a headache. CC-BY is just so much easier.

 

[Morrus]

If that’s the case, the question becomes: what happens to BRP, QW, and all the content based on the assumption they were covered by the ORC? Were they released under the license and people are free to use them but Chaosium in no longer allowed to somehow or because this violates the license the games are then retroactively pulled from the license. Yeah, this is a headache. CC-BY is just so much easier.

I'm sure they can retroactively license those 3PP games if needed, but yeah, it looks a bit messy. Looking it over, it doesn't appear they can use ORC and also restrict usage of public domain content in the same license. Hopefully they'll see this and can address it--you can't benefit from the network benefits of the open license while simultaneously restricting usage of IP you don't own. Those conditions are suited to a trademark/logo license, but not compatible with an open license.

 

[Alzrius]

They should have just used the OGL. It's simpler, it's easier, and it has a proven track record over two decades long and counting.

 

[Ian Cooper]

We have new text coming for that page. That page relates to the OGL, the page was taken down long ago, and there was some confusion during launch, and about the edits required to that page before it could go back up.

It’s ORC and there are no restrictions to public domain material, only Reserved Material i.e. Chaosium IP in the Core Book or Third Party IP you don’t have a license for.

It’s the weekend. We spotted the issue yesterday, but I need someone who is travelling to update it. The statement on the SRD is correct QuestWorlds/0.1_Legal_Information.md at master · ChaosiumInc/QuestWorlds (it has no Reserved Material so the trademark reminder is mostly redundant) as is the statement in the Core Book.

That page is also meaningless for BRP btw

Ian Cooper
Chaosium QuestWorlds Line Editor

 

[Ian Cooper]

We have new text coming for that page. That page relates to the OGL, the page was taken down long ago, and there was some confusion during launch, and about the edits required to that page before it could go back up.

It’s ORC and there are no restrictions to public domain material, only Reserved Material i.e. Chaosium IP in the Core Book or Third Party IP you don’t have a license for.

It’s the weekend. We spotted the issue yesterday, but I need someone who is travelling to update it. The statement on the SRD is correct QuestWorlds/0.1_Legal_Information.md at master · ChaosiumInc/QuestWorlds (it has no Reserved Material so the trademark reminder is mostly redundant) as is the statement in the Core Book.

That page is also meaningless for BRP btw

Ian Cooper
Chaosium QuestWorlds Line Editor

Apologies for any confusion, but a mistake over some sort of conspiracy I am afraid.

There is an explicit statement in the new text which clarifies your right to use public domain in case anyone was confused by years old OGL statements

 

[Morrus]

We have new text coming for that page. That page relates to the OGL, the page was taken down long ago, and there was some confusion during launch, and about the edits required to that page before it could go back up.

It’s ORC and there are no restrictions to public domain material, only Reserved Material i.e. Chaosium IP in the Core Book or Third Party IP you don’t have a license for.

It’s the weekend. We spotted the issue yesterday, but I need someone who is travelling to update it. The statement on the SRD is correct QuestWorlds/0.1_Legal_Information.md at master · ChaosiumInc/QuestWorlds (it has no Reserved Material so the trademark reminder is mostly redundant) as is the statement in the Core Book.

That page is also meaningless for BRP btw

Ian Cooper
Chaosium QuestWorlds Line Editor

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Ian Cooper]

Thanks for the clarification!

No worries, sorry for any confusion

 

[Michael O'Brien]

Hmmm. @Michael O'Brien who would be the best person to talk to at Chaosium about this?

As @overgeeked suspected and @Ian Cooper has confirmed above, the text on that page was out-of-date and referred to an older, OGL license we have replaced with the ORC. There are no restrictions to public domain material under the ORC. We will update that page. In the mean time, under the ORC:

CAN I MAKE A GAME DERIVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN PARTS OF THE CTHULHU MYTHOS?
Yes.

HOW ABOUT LE MORTE D’ARTHUR – THAT STORY IS SIX HUNDRED YEARS OLD!
Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIAL?
Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING SOMEONE ELSE’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?
If it isn’t public domain, then you will need a license from the owner of the materials to create a game using their IP. Period. For example, there is no fair use to Star Wars.

This applies to any game released under the ORC license, including Chaosium's QuestWorlds and Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine.

 

[overgeeked]

Looks like it's already updated.

QuestWorlds - System Reference Document

www.chaosium.com

Spoiler

QUESTWORLDS-ORC SRD FAQ​

WHAT IS RESERVED CONTENT?​

Reserved Content is material you can’t use with this SRD. It includes but may not be limited to all artwork, illustrations, and graphic design, and trade dress, and all trademarks, including Call of Cthulhu, Chaosium, Future-World, Magic World, Pendragon, RuneQuest, Superworld, and Worlds of Wonder, and all other element s designated as Rserved Material under the ORC license.

CAN I MAKE A GAME DERIVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN PARTS OF THE CTHULHU MYTHOS?​

Yes.

HOW ABOUT LE MORTE D’ARTHUR – THAT STORY IS SIX HUNDRED YEARS OLD!​

Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIAL?​

Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING SOMEONE ELSE’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?​

If it isn’t public domain, then you will need a license from the owner of the materials to create a game using their IP. Period. For example, there is no fair use to Star Wars. Or Glorantha.

Though there are two typos in the last line of the first paragraph. Underlined above.

Thanks for updating things @Michael O'Brien.

 

[Morrus]

As @overgeeked suspected and @Ian Cooper has confirmed above, the text on that page was out-of-date and referred to an older, OGL license we have replaced with the ORC. There are no restrictions to public domain material under the ORC. We will update that page. In the mean time, under the ORC:

CAN I MAKE A GAME DERIVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN PARTS OF THE CTHULHU MYTHOS?
Yes.

HOW ABOUT LE MORTE D’ARTHUR – THAT STORY IS SIX HUNDRED YEARS OLD!
Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIAL?
Yes.

CAN I MAKE A GAME USING SOMEONE ELSE’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?
If it isn’t public domain, then you will need a license from the owner of the materials to create a game using their IP. Period. For example, there is no fair use to Star Wars.

This applies to any game released under the ORC license, including Chaosium's QuestWorlds and Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine.

Thanks Michael!