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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Erratic K" data-source="post: 1817838" data-attributes="member: 14360">That analogy doesn't quite work.  It is too narrow.  The GPL helps all users of open source programs not just programmers.  GNU/Linux (argueably the most popular GPL'd software) is available free in source and binary form.  It is available to all, programmer or user not withstanding.  The license does protect the programmers from having their work co-opted without giving back the source (or other remuneration if somebody wants to license something under a different license).I think a more accurate restatement of your point is:The OGC and OGL is for sharing among gamers thereby popularizing the game and making the game bigger.  It doesn't allow others to profit from your work without giving the work back to the community.The linux community has re-packagers that take Redhat's Enterprise Linux (which although open source, is pay to get the original copy of the source) and package it as White Box Linux.  The repackagers must remove references to Redhat and the copywriten art work that is not GPL (sounds very parallel to OGC/OGL repackaging now huh?).  This is not popular with some at Redhat but is strictly legal.  The reason White Box Linux doesn't overtake RHEL is 1) support, 2) White Box has no active development and 3) the polish and artwork of RH.  Redhat would not ask them to cease because the white box crew is reaching a market that RHEL would never get to otherwise (those that don't want or can't afford the full product with support).There are re-packagers of OGL/OGC as well (the guys that sell SRD repackages on RPG Now).  Someone could easily repackage AU and sell it or give it away for free.  It would have to done without being called AU and the art work and couldn't say WotC (or Hasbro) on it etc... but it is totally legal and ethical.If rpg publishers that release material under OGL as OGC don't want people to repackage or re-use, then they shouldn't use that license and go proprietary.  I think the best part of OGL/OGC is the best part of GPL as well (can you tell I'm a GPL supporter?)- and that is the good part stays, the mediocre gets improved and the weak gets cut- and when somebody tries to exert too much control over a project, the project gets forked, this flexibility inevitably grows the number of people using GPL software.-Efor more on the GPL check out <a href="http://www.gnu.org" target="_blank">www.gnu.org</a></blockquote>

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