On Mon, 26 Jun 2000, Kal Lin wrote:
> The more likely scenario is someone wrote something (say a
> mecha rule or magic item) that is a modification of something
> in the D20SRD then someone else comes along and wants to
> publish another product that uses this. How is the second
> person being an ass? Heck the second person might even have
> had the intention to do that modification all the time but
> didn't get first to market.
"Seriously Judge, I _swear_ I invented nose-posts for
eyeglasses -- just before that Jerk did. Why should _he_ get
the benefit just because he was first?"
> > copyright. If you build a house, you dont want me to
> > be able to just come and live in it in 25 years. If
>
> I don't like to make analogies of real property but if it
> will help you think about it: suppose you fenced off a
> piece of public park and said, "this is closed, stay out."
Even more acurrately: supposed you built a consession stand
_next_ to a public park. It benefits you because the park brings
in business. It benefits the park-goers because they can eat and
drink conveniently while there.
And now you say:
> If I want to walk on that piece of public park, I will do
> so when I please and not wait around or bug the original
> donator of the park to get it opened again.
The original donator of the park will have nothing to do
with the case, which will be handled under the tresspass laws
as you've clearly monkeyed with private property.
> The point is if you use open content then you have
> to open up your modifications. Whether your "new rules"
> are modifications or not may be disputed.
If this is truly the intent, then it needs to be spelled
out better in the official documents. Otherwise, the documents
are contradictory to their own goals. But then, I've been saying
that for a while now. The new rules _should_, IMO, be made open.
New content -- settings, mosters, etc -- being closed is the
perogative of the vendor.
> The people who want openness just want to make games.
People who just want to make games are not commerially
viable enough to help OGF one whit. The _real_ movers and
shakers will have an interest in _profit_ as well.
Later,
Ron
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