mccJan 12, 2023

Paizo (publishers of Pathfinder) react to rumors of Wizards of the Coast moving from the existing Open Game License to a new, predatory license and attempting to somehow retroactively revoke the old license: https://paizo.com/community/blog

The punchline: Paizo previously used the OGL to release their original content because it was there; now they feel it is no longer trustworthy so they're making their own license.

The name: The Open RPG Creative License (ORC).

Show threadmccJan 13, 2023
Sorry, I think I may have been unclear here— the ORCs are the good guys
Show threadmccJan 13, 2023

If you haven't been following this: Around 2000 D&D 3e was released using OGL 1.0a, which Wizards created. After 23 years gobs of commercial work has been released depending on this license. About a week ago Wizards started privately sending creators a "OGL 1.1" with alarming terms. Originally it had a go-live date of *TODAY*. The new license immediately leaked, and there was uproar.

Today Wizards announced a livestream to discuss the controversy. Then cancelled it.

https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-ogl-announcement-wizards-of-the-coast-1849981365

Wizards of the Coast Cancels OGL Announcement After Online Ire

The new Dungeons & Dragons Open Game License was expected on Thursday afternoon, but a fan campaign against changes has caused the company to hesitate.

Gizmodo
Show threadmccJan 20, 2023

Follow-up: So one week after canceling the launch of "OGL 1.1" aka "OGL 2.0", Wizards has launched "OGL 1.2". They brag they've addressed community concerns in various ways, but I don't think they have. For example they brag the new license contains the word "irrevocable" (although they define it to mean something special in the document so maybe it's still revocable). But the outrage was that Hasbro was trying to revoke the *old* OGL, 1.0a. And they're still doing that:

https://www.polygon.com/23562874/dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-2-release-download-feedback-survey

D&D will move to Creative Commons license, requests feedback on new OGL

A new draft of the Dungeons & Dragons Open Gaming License (OGL) places the core rules of the seminal tabletop RPG in the Creative Commons. “We’re giving the core D&D mechanics to the community,” said the executive producer. Feedback is due by Feb. 3.

Polygon
Show threadmccJan 20, 2023
Like I don't th… I still don't think they can do that. "Deauthorize" a license they licensed content to you under previously as they purport to in that screenshot. Unless this is some kinda "by using OGL 1.2, you agree to stop using 1.0a" thing, everything I know of US contract law is if you let people go 23 years understanding "if I'm holding a copy of the book with the license in it, I have the license" you can't just say "okay backsies, the license printed on that paper isn't real anymore".
Show threadparticlesJan 20, 2023
@mcc we have printed the new license on a piece of paper that's secret and based on this secret piece of paper we haven't shown anyone, we have deauthorized the old license
Show threadmcc
@particles I am very much find fascinated by the [effective date] in the text. I understand it's a draft but they're basically telling 3p publishers "do you have works in the pipeline targeting 5e? well you better publish them before [effective date]!"
Jan 20, 2023 at 6:13pmWeb
Show threadmccJan 20, 2023
@particles Drawing an additional box on my calendar for a day labeled "EFFECTIVE DATE" with a marker, then drawing a big red circle around it
Show threadparticlesJan 20, 2023
@mcc let's just say hypothetically that everyone "releases" a project right now under the original OGL, or maybe let's say, releases 100 projects right now under the original OGL, and then just "updates" them with real content later?