From: "Lizard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> A few comments:
> a)As I understand it, it is legal for me to release D20 software which
> generates or stores character (i.e, DM assistance software) but not
> anything which resolves actions -- i.e, I could not write a combat tool or
> a MUD and use the D20 license.
Correct.
> I can, however, write a freeware/shareware
> or even commercial(?) game using the rules, terms, etc, in the D20 SRD.
Correct - provided that you just don't use the trademarks. Figuring out how
to comply with the terms of the OGL is an excersize that has to be left to a
future time. I still think the best way to handle the matter is either to
use an Open Source software license, or somehow jigger your software to
provide an output of all the Open Game content used by the software.
I am virtually certain that the first major revision of the OGL is going to
arise over the need to better adjudicate software issues, but right now
software is like the third rail of WotC interoffice politics - touch it and
die.
> b)You might wish to rename the "D20 SRD", perhaps to "Standard Fantasy
> System" or the like. The reason is, the terms of the OGL (not D20 STL)
> means I could not say something like "This game is based on the D20 SRD!"
Yes, that's correct. You could not say that. I suspect that publishers who
choose to use the OGL'd D20 content but not the D20 Trademark will evolve
some other nomenclature to indicate what it is that they're publishing.
The final release of the SRD won't have a title, and won't have the words
"D20 System" in it anywhere. I suspect that the actual file names will be
something like "RPG.TXT".
> c)What is the time limit for WOTC to determine that a product is 'in
> breach' of the D20 STL?
There isn't one.
> To look at this from the conspiracy theorists point
> of view, it would be just like those eeeeevil basitches at WOTC to let
> someone release a game under D20 STL, then, when it was selling well,
> suddenly decide it was "in breach" and demand changes be made.
That could absolutely happen. However, if the product >wasn't< in breach,
the publisher would have every legal right in the world to tell WotC to go
to hell. If you're planning on doing commercial releases, you owe it to
yourself to get a legal opinion of your license compliance before
continuing.
There's no way WotC can accept a given time frame to identify a product as
being in breach. Nobody inside the company is going to be reviewing D20
materials published "in the wild", and it could be >years< before anyone
noticed there was a problem.
It is very important to us that nobody actually review the material, because
that forms one of the strongest protections for us in the event that some
3rd party litigation arises in a D20 project, and it provide us safe cover
to ignore content that we find offensive.
> d)What, if any, arbitration mechanism is there for resolving alleged
> failure to abide by the terms of the D20 STL?
None.
> e)I really like the list of defined terms.
:) (It's mostly the glossary from the 3e PHB... )
> f)What is meant by 'extend' the defined terms? For example, could I define
> a term called "Toughness" and say "Toughness is a combination of Armor
> Class and Constitution, with the following effects...." (BTW, Damage
> Reduction is NOT a defined term? Interesting.)
"Toughness" is a new term - you're not changing the definition of either
Armor Class or Constitution.
> g)Updates -- Sigh. There's really no way around this, because you need the
> right to modify the license, but I can hear the conspiracy theorists at
it.
The Open Gaming economy is a trust economy. Right now, there's not a lot of
"trust" in circulation, but as time goes on the supply will go up and people
will feel more comfortable. There's no way to fix this problem except to
just run the experiment and allow deeds (or lack of deeds) to speak louder
than words. And some people will never be satisfied. For them, half the
fun of this project is waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Ryan
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