On Mon, 26 Jun 2000, kevin kenan wrote:
> Openness worth risking the integrity of your IP?
> Both of these issues represent serious risks that may very well keep
> any professional game designer (someone who has a history of creating
> valuable IP) from releasing material under the OGL. The uncertainties
> and risks are too great; it is safer sticking to the traditional
> model. No one wants their IP compromised.
I don't think we are trying to convert professional game designers
to D20 publishers. If they feel complete protection of their IP is
more important than working with open content then they can stay away.
The OGL is for people who are more concerned with making and playing
games. Big professionals who want to stake out IP claims, make tons of
money and make it difficult for others to enter that segment can wait and
see whether the D20 market gets big enough to take the risks involved.
> I'm not picking on WotC, here. It seems that the OGL places the
> originator of the game system in a privileged position relative to
> everyone who uses the game system. If Steve Jackson Games released a
> GURSP:SRD, then SJG's IP would enjoy strong copyright protection while
> everyone using the GURPS:SRD would face questionable protection.
>
> I don't like this. I want the people using Open material to have the
> same protection as the people who originally made the Open system.
I'll reserve judgement until I see what actually happens with
WotC in the future.
--Kal
-------------
For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
