Hi All! Happy New Year!
I have a question about writing shareware for D20 system. If I want to write shareware
soft for D20,
may I announce that software D20 compatible and promote it accordingly? (just joined
the list -
sincere apologies if I'm asking that question like 301-st time. )
Being very exited about D20 and OGF I'm considering writing some software for it. But
reading the
legal documents left me feeling a bit down... Here is the parts what concerns me:
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1. D20STLG, General Definitions:
" 'Interactive Game': means a piece of computer gaming software that is designed to
accept inputs
from human players or their agents, and use rules to resolve the success or failure of
those inputs,
and return some indication of the results of those inputs to the users."
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Under such definition falls about 99% of all software and non-static websites. Web
page what creates
NPC name (indication of result) from race & class (user input) from a table (rules)
using random
generator (success or
failure) - its already "interactive game" under this terms. I can't imagine any
software (especially
number-heavy RPG tools) functioning without user input, processing it by some rules
and showing the
result. If the aim was really to remove computer games (and only games) the definition
should be
much sharper.
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2. D20STLG, Restricted Trademark Use:
" You may not use the d20 System License or the d20 System Logo in conjunction with
any product that
meets the definition of an "Interactive Game" as defined in this Guide. "
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Ok, so no website or shareware what process user input by some rules can use D20 logo
and trademark.
But we can still use OGC of D20 without worrying about D20STLG, just by OGL, right?
Not in a way it
will make any sense:
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3. OGL, 7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity,
including as an
indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent
Agreement with
the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate
compatibility or
co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work
containing
Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with
the owner of
such Trademark or Registered Trademark.
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So, I can use D20 OGC to write the software, but I CAN'T tell anyone this software is
compatible
with D20. As soon as I do that without another "Independent Agreement" (which for D20
is obviously
D20STLG, which we can't qualify for with any software) I will violate terms of OGL,
which in turn
will make the whole software illegal because it no longer can use even OGC. This
renders whole idea
of writing D20 shareware and helper web-pages pointless, I think... can't imagine
anyone using, or
even learning about the product when you can't even announce on the web or inside the
software
itself what its for! ;)
Considering implications of "Interactive Game" definition: web page with submit button
named
"D20/Dungeons & Dragons NPC Generator" is already illegal (using D20/D&D TM while
being "Interative
Game" ) TSR 95...
Really hope I overlooked something and things are not that hopeless for us, software
developers! I'm
totally exited about whole D20/OGF movement, but IMHO to be truly successful in our
tech-heavy
times it has to harness software-making creative drive of individuals same way it does
for writers.
Ideally it would be great to have special article in D20STLG as safe harbor for
shareware and helper
tools authors. Which probably serve the purpose originally intended (keep D&D computer
game
licensing business alive) while leaving out shareware/helper tools authors.
- Max Skibinsky
