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Switch to Forum Live View Concerns about OGL.
1 year ago  ::  Feb 24, 2012 - 1:17PM #1
morfictiony
Date Joined: Feb 24, 2012
Posts: 3

FAQ


and


Other FAQ.


A: In addition to following all the rules of the OGL for any Open Content you use, the d20 System Guide doesn't let you describe the process for creating a character, describe the process for applying experience to a character, and cannot be an interactive game.



This doesn't make sense to me. There's dozens of games out there that use d20 rules. (D20pro being the most obvious one.) Those are interactive games. They allow character creation and such.


So how do they get around this rule?

If I were to make a game, am I also not allowed to express character creation rules?

Or do these above "D20" rules apply to GSL and not OGL?  

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1 year ago  ::  Feb 25, 2012 - 7:42AM #2
bone_naga
Date Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Posts: 9,966
Your links don't work so I don't know specifically what you are referring to.

However, the Open Game License (OGL), the d20 System Trademark License, and the Game System License (GSL) are all different things that have their own specific terms to abide by.
Owner and Proprietor of the House of Trolls.
God of ownership and possession.
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1 year ago  ::  Feb 26, 2012 - 4:56AM #3
morfictiony
Date Joined: Feb 24, 2012
Posts: 3
Open Game License:
Frequently Asked Questions

www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/oglfaq...



Software FAQ: 

www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/oglfaq...



I hope this fixes the links... dangit! The stupid thing inserts "HREF" into the urls if USE "URL code.... 








Below I'll quote directly from the OGL license. I wonder where in there it say I can't explain character creation.... 

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a


 


The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.


 


1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.


 


2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.


 


3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.


 


4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.


 


5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.


 


6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.


 


7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.


 


8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.


 


9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.


 


10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.


 


11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.


 


12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.


 


13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.


 


14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.


 


15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.


 




 


 
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1 year ago  ::  Feb 27, 2012 - 4:33PM #4
bonesclone
Date Joined: Jul 23, 2011
Posts: 218
You are reading two completely separate licenses. That would be why they say different things.
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1 year ago  ::  Feb 28, 2012 - 6:13PM #5
bone_naga
Date Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Posts: 9,966
To go into more specifics than what has already been said, one is the OGL. That is a very broad license that really could be used with any ruleset not just the 3e/d20 system. It lets you publish your material as open content and use anything that has been designated as open content by others, which includes large portions of the PHB, MM, and other official books as well as just about every 3e 3pp supplement.

The other license is the d20 license. It also lets you use 3e rules, but it is more restrictive since it has caveats like you cannot describe the character creation process. However, it allows you to place the recognizable d20 logo on your product and advertise your product as being compatible with 3e Dungeons and Dragons, which is supposed to make it more enticing than making a straight OGL product.
Owner and Proprietor of the House of Trolls.
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1 year ago  ::  May 24, 2012 - 2:50PM #6
morfictiony
Date Joined: Feb 24, 2012
Posts: 3
Oh. So there's d20 AND OGL AND GSL. 

I noticed there's a computer game called "d20 pro" which interactive and lets people do character creation AFAIK. But according to the software license they arne't allowed to do that.

Since this thread was created I have been reading into Dominion Rules...  
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