What would happen if WotC yanked the d20 License? [and OGL]

[Emirikol]

What would happen if WotC yanked the d20 License?

Since they're retracting such simple things as Dungeon & Dragon, what would happen if they yanked d20 license completely?

jh

 

[Vigilance]

There'd be a lot more OGL products.

 

[Meloncov]

The phrase "OGL for use with the worlds most popular role-playing game" get used a lot more. Other than that, not much.

 

[eyebeams]

What would happen if WotC yanked the d20 License?

Since they're retracting such simple things as Dungeon & Dragon, what would happen if they yanked d20 license completely?

jh

Lots of sales, since anybody with d20-logoed products has to get rid of them ASAP.

 

[Glyfair]

The phrase "OGL for use with the worlds most popular role-playing game" get used a lot more. Other than that, not much.

I agree. I'm not sure the d20 logo is a big selling point anymore.

 

[Emirikol]

So..add OGL to the list (since they'd yank both at the same time if they did it).

Would there be an uproar or would there be a renniassance?

jh

 

[F5]

There'd be a lot more OGL products.

Yeah, pretty much. There are already "d20 alternative" brands out there, you'd probably see more products released under these umbrellas, or without any cohesive "brand" at all.

The main benefit of publishing under the d20 license is recognizability, that people know that a d20 book is compatible with D&D. I think the OGL and 3rd Party supplements have been around long enough that most gamers pretty much understand how it works. The need for a trademark shortcut to brand-recognition is not as great as it was when the OGL/d20 started.

I doubt there would be much effect if the d20 license got yanked, other than the general drama on the intarwebs.

But then, I don't make a living writing d20 material. Someone from, say, Green Ronin might feel differently...

 

[hafrogman]

So..add OGL to the list (since they'd yank both at the same time if they did it).

I thought they couldn't yank the OGL. They can choose not to release new material under it, but the old stuff is out.

 

[WayneLigon]

Likely, the companies that are still producing d20 stuff would switch over to the OGL license and modify or replace d20-exclusive content (like Mind Flayers, I think?). Or just drop those products from their inventory, most likely, unless they were phenomenal sellers.

 

[F5]

I thought they couldn't yank the OGL. They can choose not to release new material under it, but the old stuff is out.

They can't. The OGL is out there, and the OGL itself is Open Source. Once released, they can't get the cat back in the bag.

At least, that's the theory. They COULD make a stink about it, and bring in copyright lawyers claiming some loophole, and then it goes to court. But my understanding is that it would be a pretty much undefendable case.