Hello everyone- In trying to decide to if I should use the OGL to open up my game rules, I�ve been going over different scenarios in my mind that will help me understand more specifically how the OGL works and what may be possible or not possible in using it. I want to apologize is this exercise gets lengthy or may be simply redundant to some of you�I�d like to get opinions on my interpretation of certain aspects of the license. This may be more for my benefit than anyone else�s. Here goes�
Let�s say I release my game system under the OGL. In this scenario I�m going to use Doug Meerschaert�s work �Craft of the Mind� as part of my illustration. Doug has also released �Craft� under the OGL, opening up his rules for Psionics for other developers. Of course, he has written �Craft� with the D20 system in mind, so the mechanics use the D20 system. I come across �Craft� on his website, and I like how he�s set up his system of Psionics. I like it enough that I want to use it in my game system. Let�s say I don�t want to take the time or effort to write my own, but only want to modify and alter slightly what he has done. Since he has released his work as Open Game Content (�The contents of this work are Open Gaming Content�) I can use it word-for-word, reproducing it as my psionics system in my game as long as I acknowledge Doug in the copyright notice of the OGL I include in my document.( along with perhaps acknowledging it as a derivative work of the SRD?). Since my system doesn�t use the D20, I�d only need to make a few modifications and changes to the operation of the mechanics. This would fall under the �Derivative Material� section of the OGL. The only parts of Doug�s game I could NOT use would be the name �Craft of the Mind� or the name �Sasha� he uses as a character example, since he has clearly indicated both of these as PI I don�t need to use �Craft of the Mind� in any way, and I can rename �Sasha� to �Helena� , remove all references to D20 system and redescribe her using my system�s stats, and continue on�I could even use his Mindwalker Class name, since he has not indicated this as his PI. I could NOT claim �Mindwalker� as MY PI, because Doug has already declared that as OGC. Once it has been opened, the original owner or someone else using the material cannot close it. So now I am using Doug�s OGC for my game system, slightly modified. I haven�t had to ask his permission, only acknowledge him in the Copyright Notice. Doug has spent a lot of time writing and perfecting his system of psionics�I have come along and BAM!�adapted his work and in a short time have use of his writing as part of my system. Doug comes along and sees where I have used his open material in my system. How would he feel about that? Would he like that I used his material since it was open content, or would he feel like I ripped him off? But if you open up your work under a license such as the OGL, you�re basically allowing anyone the freedom to copy, modify and redistribute your work. They don�t have to contact you, only make sure they include you in the copyright notice and make sure to reproduce the entire OGL in the new work. Am I missing something here? Have I misinterpreted how the Open Game Content can be used by others? Of course, from a polite or semi-professional viewpoint, I would never just use Doug�s work without contacting him first and expressing an interest in what he has done, perhaps even ask him if he would want to adapt it to my system himself. I would do this out of courtesy to Doug., but someone may not be considerate in that manner. This helps me to understand how MY work may be taken and used by others if I decide to open it up under a license such as the OGL. One last question/point: in the reproduction of the OGL Doug has in the back of �Crafts of the Mind�, under the COPYRIGHT NOTICE, should he also have included: Craft of the Mind � 2000, Doug Meerschaert. ? (Maybe you have Doug, I have an older version of your document) Thanks- Clint Jackson __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
