>From: Doug Meerschaert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>"Faustus von Goethe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Non-proft corporations (aside from the name) are not like real
>corporations.
> > They are usually set up to avoid liability for a venture that (in and
>of
>
>To answer your previous question (now that you're in a more civil
>tone--rudeness should be off-list)
My apologies..
>I would suspect that the OGF would either
>be legally independant, or the property of Mr. Dancy himself.
>Who will be in charge? I would presume that, eventually, something
>resembling
>a board of directors or a single controling person would be in charge.
I am curious why you think these things? There is no reason for it to be
this way and I don't think Mr. Dancy would want the hassles, as well as I
doubt WotC would want him to. Sun set up a "non-profit" corporation for
Java. This is done all the time in the corporate world to operate
distributed licenses. It is a way of separating the (very sticky) license
issues from the corporation who stands to benefit the most.
>The OGF being non-profit does more than just negate liability--it gives
>positive PR that the open-gaming is more than just WotC marketing--it's
>something with a life of its own.
Only to people who don't understand what "non-profit" means. Really I think
you are confusing "non-profit" with "charitable". I set up a non-profit
corporation in college to produce and market newsletters on privacy issues.
There is not that much to it, and it protects you from liability.
"Non-profit" does not mean "in the public interest." it is just a tax
status. The vast majority of non-profit corporations are individuals who
indeed are selling or marketing something. They make their money by
appointing themselves "Director" and paying themselves a salary. This was
*very common* in the 80's before "S" corporations and "LLCs" when it was the
only way to protect yourself from the risk of being sued. It is not nearly
so common now, because there are better ways to structure a small business
and avoid risk.
It is pricey compared to other options, also. If Mr. Dancy were doing this
by himself he would almost certainly pick a better option for incorporation.
An LLC would probably save him a lot of set up costs.
Faust
> > STL ...
> > (which isn't out yet) is sort of a way to LIMIT rights granted under OGL
>-
> > ie were "open" but NOT if you want to use our trademark.
>
>Actually, they're as "open" as some of the open-source software firms.
I agree. I am not criticizing. Nor am I a conspiracy theorist.
> > Buyers will know they
> > do not have to learn "joes gaming system" to play a D20 product.
> >
> > The D20 on the cover increases your market, with relatively little risk.
>
>
>I have to say that I love this little bit--just as a gamer, it's really
>exciting to think that I can acually pick up and use all-new releases
>without
>having to re-work them for D&D.
Same here - the whole reason I am involved. Right now it seems it is an
education process, though.
Faust
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