> kevin kenan
>
> It's not the entire game system that I want to lock down, just the
> setting/adventure material. If I create an original setting, I don't want
> others appropriating it as their own and publishing material for it. As a
> game designer, I would like access to a public game system; that is what I
> gain. People who use that public game system gain additional material that
> is compatible with their game system. I think everyone gains.
But you've already stated (and stated again below) that when the rules and
the setting become intertwined they are indistinguishable. At that point
you must lock down the rules as well as the setting, or else a small part of
your IP will leak out. A public system that you cannot copyright defeats
this, and although you suggested it earlier, the OGL isn't going to let you
copyright someone else's work.
Also, you stated that you wanted to keep others from writing supplemental
material for your universe. I assumed you meant adventure modules,
character generation (like The Complete... books), and alternative rules for
your universe. When it is based on a public system this is very difficult.
You can keep them from using the names of your major IP landmarks, and if
you close off enough of the rules you could make major pieces inaccessible
(rules like 'The Force' come to mind), but you can't stop people from
creating material that shares the same foundation as yours, and made the
same interpretations of that material that you have made. They won't be
able to say 'Works with the SnakeWars setting', but that is a far cry from
keeping tight control over your IP.
As John Eilers points out, it is Trademark law combined with copyright law
that does the best job protecting IP in this way. Copyright alone will not
be enough.
Lastly, you must also commit to defending these rights in court if they are
abridged. Going to all the work of closing off material you are unwilling
or unable to fight for is useless. Further, using the OGL might make this
harder than a traditional trademark/copyright infringement suit.
> I think that is also the intention of the OGL, but because rules
> and setting
> material blend together in any substantial roleplaying work, the
> OGL stands
> in the way of locking down the setting. This will present a problem to
> people who want to closely control the setting material for games they
> release under the OGL.
I agree. The OGL is not for folks who are primarily concerned with absolute
control over their IP. It will work well for people/companies who designate
'acceptable losses' of control of their IP in exchange for tapping into the
body of OGL rules.
-Brad
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