In a message dated 1/13/02 2:48:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< The bulk of the OGL was developed on this very list, by those very rank-and-file list lurkers. (well, the list lurkers at the time, anyway.) >> While I was not present in the early days of this list (pre "officially released" status of the OGL), I find it hard to swallow that the OGL that was adopted and approved by WotC's legal department was "developed by Ogf-l list lurkers." Maybe it was. But I suspect that *feedback from* the list lurkers went to those who developed the OGL. If that's what you mean, then I'll concede the point. << I would hazzard that there is a greater concentration of knowledge about the OGL here than anyplace else outside of WotC. >> Well, the qualifier at the end of your comment above kinda makes my point. << Attorneys, while no doubt versed in many aspects of law, are very rarely specalized in the OGL's two obscure fields. A knowledgeable gamer that sees a violation and wants to test their own understanding of the OGL as much as anything won't spend the time or money for an attorney--since there's no way to get a profit, he'll just ask the silly question here and see what pops up. >> Yup. I know. It happens all the time. << Of course, the powers-that-be have also been much more than accomodationg, answering just about every direct question ever posed to this list at least once. That's a pretty good reason to ask things here all by itself, if you ask me. >> Which "powers that be" are those? The folks at WotC's legal department? Or the former employee who is no longer in a position to provide "official" responses from said legal department? That's not a slap at Ryan or his credibility; I think Ryan has done a fantastic job of promoting d20 and the OGL. But my points lay outside of the realm of personalities and "He's a swell guy" arguments. I'm just curious as to what make sthis list *the* place to get answers to what seem like legal questions. If all one is after is an opinion that supports one's own, or just any old opinion, for that matter, then by all means, happy digging to all. But I can post opinions here, as well. And my opinion is that opinions about WotC's opinions about what the court *might* someday have an opinion on is a horribly irresponsible thing to build a "knowledge base" upon when running a business or dealing with the legal pretzel that is the OGL. <LOL> Mark Arsenault President, Gold Rush Games | http://www.goldrushgames.com Executive Director, Game Publishers Association | http://www.thegpa.org ------------------------------------------------------- Action! System Beta rules! - http://www.action-system.com _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
