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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Owen K.C. Stephens" data-source="post: 8878266" data-attributes="member: 3190">If this leak is an accurate representation of any of WotC's language regarding OGL 1.1 (either language within the license itself, or language that is similar to a FAQ for OGL 1.1), it represents a serious industry-changing bit of news.How bad the news is depends on lots of details the leak does not cover. But the worst-case scenario would be very, very bad.  I can't blame anyone who doesn't know Stephen and Mark, and who isn't hearing about this language from multiple independent sources, for being skeptical the legitimacy of this leak.I do know Stephen and Mark. They are very smart, ethical, good-faith actors within the industry. I am absolutely convinced that they are sure that this is the actual language being used by WotC behind-the-scenes right now, and that their source is someone they know and completely trust.And, I am hearing the exact same things from other people who aren't going public, but who I also know to be smart, ethical, good faith actors who would have access to people with first-person access to WotC's OGL 1.1 documentation.And even after all that, I am skeptical. I'm positive none of this is an effort for clickbait glory from Mark or Stephen. And I am sure they trust their source. But I don't know who that source is, and everything I am hearing is second-hand.But given the character and intelligence of Mark and Stephen, and that I am hearing the exact same thing from multiple independent sources, I'm not dismissing this either. Some of those sources are ringing alarm bells as loudly as they can without putting their careers in jeopardy. Some are very clear that the worst-case-scenario is coming, and that many popular video creators are being pressured to accept the new OGL 1.1 right now, as part of an effort to make it seem fait accompli before it goes public.I don't have first-hand knowledge that supports this. But the second-hand information I'm getting is extensive and worrying.I have worked on-staff for WotC, and Paizo, and other companies, and I have seen how the sausage gets made. And it is absolutely possible to me both that WotC would try this, and that they'd decide to use that language when they did so. I have seen other contracts (and, heck, signed some) from WotC and other entertainment companies that include that kind of informal language. It's not the norm, but it does happen.Maybe Mark and Stephen are wrong. Heck, I hope they're wrong. And even if they aren't, WotC may change the language before it goes public. (And, again, if that is the current language, I hope WotC changes it.) And even if Mark and Stephen are right and the final language doesn't change, it may not be nearly as bad as it seems out of context. It could be a sub-clause that only kicks in if someone wants to use OGL 1.1 material. There may be some legal nicety that isn't included in the leak, which change what it means.In the balance, even if the leak is 100% accurate for what is being discussed right now, I think it's more likely than not that the worst-case version of what WotC could try with OGL 1.1 isn't going to happen.But I'm not confident in that, and my belief should in no way be taken as saying Mark and Stephen are wrong about what the language is right now.</blockquote>

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