Licença de marca registrada do sistema d20

licença de marca registrada do sistema D20
A Licença D20 System ® versão 3.0.
Ao baixar os arquivos gráficos anexados e / ou ao retornar o cartão de confirmação, conforme apresentado no arquivo "card. pdf", "quot; o Licenciado (& quot; You & quot;) aceita ser obrigado pelos seguintes termos e condições:
1. Copyright & amp; Marca comercial.
O Wizards of the Coast, Inc. mantém o título e a propriedade dos logotipos de marcas registradas do D20 System, da marca registrada do sistema D20 e de todos os outros direitos autorais e marcas registradas reivindicados pelos Wizards of the Coast no The Official Wizards of the Coast D20 System Trademark Logo Guide versão 1.0, incorporado aqui por referência.
2. Licença para usar.
Você é concedido a licença não transferível, não exclusiva e isenta de royalties para usar os logotipos de marcas registradas do D20 System, a marca registrada do sistema D20 e certas outras marcas registradas e direitos autorais de propriedade da Wizards of the Coast de acordo com as condições especificadas em The Guia oficial do logotipo da marca registrada do sistema D20 dos feiticeiros da costa D20, versão 2.0. (os & quot; licenciados artigos & quot;)
3. Acordo para não concorrer.
Ao usar e / ou distribuir material usando a Marca Comercial do Sistema D20 nos termos desta Licença, você concorda em não contestar a propriedade dos Artigos Licenciados.
4. Violação e cura.
No caso de você não cumprir os termos desta Licença, você será considerado incumprimento desta Licença. Os feiticeiros da costa tentarão notificá-lo por escrito enviando uma carta registrada ao endereço listado no mais recente cartão de confirmação no arquivo, se houver. Você terá 30 dias a partir da data do aviso (o "período de cura") para curar a violação a satisfação de Wizards of the Coast. Se nenhum cartão de confirmação estiver no arquivo, você será considerado incumprimento desta Licença imediatamente.
Se, no final do período de cura, a violação não for curada, os Feiticeiros da Costa podem rescindir esta Licença sem aviso prévio por Você.
6. Efeitos da rescisão.
Após a rescisão, você deve interromper imediatamente todo o uso dos Artigos Licenciados e destruirá qualquer inventário ou material de marketing em sua posse com os logotipos do D20 System Trademark. Você removerá qualquer uso dos logotipos do D20 System Trademark de sua publicidade, site, papel timbrado ou qualquer outro uso. Você deve instruir qualquer empresa ou indivíduo que você é ou se tornar consciente de quem está na posse de qualquer material distribuído por você com os logotipos do D20 System Trademark para destruir esses materiais. Você suportará exclusivamente quaisquer custos relacionados à realização deste termo da Licença.
7. Penalidade por falta de cumprimento das instruções de terminação.
Se você não cumprir com os efeitos da rescisão, os Wizards of the Coast podem, a seu critério, prosseguir um litígio, pelo qual você será responsável por todos os custos legais, contra você na extensão total da lei por violação de contrato, direitos autorais e violação de marca registrada, danos e qualquer outro remédio disponível.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou novos lançamentos dos logotipos D20 System Trademark sem aviso prévio. Você, na primeira oportunidade possível, atualizará todo o material distribuído por Você para usar a versão atualizada e / ou nova dos logotipos do D20 System Trademark. Você pode continuar a distribuir qualquer material pré-existente que tenha uma versão mais antiga do logotipo do D20 System Trademark.
9. Mudanças nos Termos da Licença.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou revisões desta Licença sem aviso prévio. Você irá, o mais cedo possível, em conformidade com os termos atualizados ou revisados ​​desta Licença. Por um período de 90 dias, você pode continuar a distribuir qualquer material pré-existente que cumpra com uma versão anterior da Licença. Posteriormente, o consentimento por escrito deve ser obtido da Wizards of the Coast. As versões subsequentes desta Licença terão um número de versão diferente.
10. Atualizações da informação do Licenciado.
Você pode transmitir uma versão atualizada do & quot; card. pdf & quot; Cartão de confirmação a qualquer momento para Wizards of the Coast.
11. Avisos ao Licenciador:
Wizards of the Coast.
D20 System License Dept.
Renton, WA 98057-0707.
12. Sem manutenção ou suporte.
Os Wizards of the Coast não terão qualquer obrigação de fornecer qualquer tipo de manutenção ou suporte em relação aos logotipos do D20 System Trademark.
13. Não há garantia / isenção de responsabilidade.
OS ARQUIVOS DE LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DE SISTEMA D20 SÃO DISPONIBILIZADOS EM "QUAL É" BASE. OS COMPUTADORES DA COSTA NÃO FAZEM QUALQUER REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA, SEJA EXPRESSA OU IMPLÍCITA, COMO A APTIDÃO PARA UM FIM ESPECÍFICO, USO OU COMERCIALIZAÇÃO. WIZARDS OF THE COAST NÃO FAZ NENHUMA REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA DE QUE OS ARQUIVOS DO LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DO SISTEMA D20 ESTÃO SEM ERROS.

D20 System Trademark License.
A VERSÃO DE LICENÇA DA MARCA REGISTRADA DO D20 6.0 Editar.
Ao fazer o download dos arquivos gráficos anexados e / ou ao retornar o Cartão de Confirmação conforme apresentado no arquivo "card. pdf", o Licenciado ("Você") aceita ficar vinculado pelos seguintes termos e condições:
1. Copyright & amp; Editar marca registrada.
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. mantém o título ea propriedade dos logotipos de marcas registradas do sistema d20, a marca registrada do sistema d20 e todos os outros direitos autorais e marcas registradas reivindicados pelos Wizards of the Coast no The Official Wizards of the Coast d20 System Trademark Guide found in wizards / d20 (o "Guia do Sistema D20"), incorporado aqui por referência.
2. Licença para usar Editar.
Você é concedido a licença não transferível, não exclusiva, não sublicenciável e isenta de royalties para usar os logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20, a marca registrada do sistema d20 e certas outras marcas comerciais e direitos autorais de propriedade da Wizards of the Coast (o "Licenciado" Artigos ") de acordo com as condições especificadas na versão atual desta Licença e no Guia do Sistema d20.
3. Acordo não para Editar o Concurso.
Ao usar e / ou distribuir material usando a marca registrada do sistema d20 sob os termos desta Licença, você concorda em não contestar a propriedade dos Artigos Licenciados.
4. Padrão de qualidade Editar.
A natureza de todo o material que você usa ou distribui que incorpora os Artigos Licenciados deve cumprir todas as leis e regulamentos aplicáveis, bem como normas de decência da comunidade, conforme descrito no Guia do Sistema d20. Você deve usar seus melhores esforços para preservar o alto padrão e a boa vontade das marcas registradas licenciadas. Para garantir os requisitos padrão e de qualidade acima, os Wizards of the Coast devem ter o direito, mediante aviso prévio, de revisar e inspecionar todo o material divulgado por Você que usa os Artigos Licenciados. Você deve cooperar plenamente com os Wizards of the Coast para facilitar essa revisão e inspeção, incluindo a entrega atempada de cópias de todos esses materiais para Wizards of the Coast. Os Feiticeiros da Costa podem rescindir esta Licença imediatamente após a tentativa de notificação se considerar, a seu exclusivo critério, que o uso dos Artigos Licenciados não atende aos padrões acima.
5. Término por Breach Edit.
No caso de você não cumprir os termos desta Licença ou o Guia do Sistema d20, você será considerado como incumprimento desta Licença. Wizards of the Coast tentará notificá-lo por escrito, enviando uma carta para o endereço listado no mais recente cartão de confirmação no arquivo, se houver. Exceto quando especificado de outra forma, você terá 30 dias a partir da data do aviso (o "período de cura") para curar a violação a satisfação de Wizards of the Coast. Se nenhum cartão de confirmação estiver no arquivo, você será considerado incumprimento desta Licença imediatamente. Se, no final do período de cura, a violação não for curada, os Feiticeiros da Costa podem rescindir esta Licença sem aviso prévio por Você.
6. Efeitos da Terminação Editar.
Após a rescisão, você deve interromper imediatamente todo o uso dos artigos licenciados e destruirá qualquer inventário ou material de marketing em sua posse com os logotipos d20 do sistema registrador. Você removerá qualquer uso dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 da sua publicidade, site, papel timbrado ou qualquer outro uso. Você deve instruir qualquer empresa ou indivíduo que você é ou se tornar consciente de quem está na posse de qualquer material distribuído por você que contém os logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 para destruir esses materiais. Você suportará exclusivamente quaisquer custos relacionados à realização deste termo da Licença. Na Wizards vendeu discrição, Wizards pode permitir que você continue a usar a Licença para Artigos licenciados que de outra forma cumprem os termos da Licença.
7. Penalidade por falta de cumprimento das instruções de terminação Editar.
Se você não cumprir com os efeitos da rescisão, os Wizards of the Coast podem, a seu critério, prosseguir um litígio, pelo qual você será responsável por todos os custos legais, contra você na extensão total da lei por violação de contrato, direitos autorais e violação de marca registrada, danos e qualquer outro remédio disponível.
8. Atualizações Editar.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou novos lançamentos dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 sem aviso prévio. Você, na primeira oportunidade possível, atualizará todo o material distribuído por Você para usar a versão atualizada e / ou nova dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20. Você pode continuar a distribuir qualquer material pré-existente que tenha uma versão mais antiga do logotipo da marca D20 System.
9. Mudanças nos Termos da Licença Editar.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou revisões desta Licença sem aviso prévio. Você se conformará em todos os aspectos aos termos atualizados ou revisados ​​desta Licença. As versões subsequentes desta Licença terão um número de versão diferente.
10. Atualizações da informação do Licenciado Editar.
Você pode transmitir uma versão atualizada do cartão de confirmação "card. pdf" a qualquer momento para Wizards of the Coast.
11. Avisos ao Licenciador: Editar.
Wizards of the Coast c / o Editora de Publicação Attn: Departamento de Jogos de Role PO Box 707 Renton, WA 98057-0707.
12. Nenhuma manutenção ou suporte Editar.
Os Wizards of the Coast não terão qualquer obrigação de fornecer qualquer tipo de manutenção ou suporte em relação aos logotipos do D20 System.
13. Nenhuma garantia / Disclaimer Editar.
OS ARQUIVOS DE LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DO SISTEMA D20 SÃO DISPONIBILIZADOS NA "BASE". OS COMPUTADORES DA COSTA NÃO FAZEM QUALQUER REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA, SEJA EXPRESSA OU IMPLÍCITA, COMO A APTIDÃO PARA UM FIM ESPECÍFICO, USO OU COMERCIALIZAÇÃO. WIZARDS OF THE COAST NÃO FAZ NENHUMA REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA DE QUE OS ARQUIVOS DO LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DO SISTEMA D20 ESTÃO SEM ERROS.

licença de marca registrada do sistema D20
Materiais gratuitos para Babylon 5 Roleplaying Games desde 1997!
1. Direitos autorais e marca registrada.
A Wizards of the Coast, Inc. mantém o título e a propriedade dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20, a marca registrada do sistema d20 e todos os outros direitos autorais e marcas registradas reivindicados pelos Wizards of the Coast no The Official Wizards of the Coast d20 System Trademark Logo Guide encontrados em assistentes / d20 (o "Guia do logotipo da marca d20 System Trademark"), incorporado aqui por referência.
2. Licença para usar.
Você está concedido a licença não transferível, não exclusiva e isenta de royalties para usar os logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20, a marca registrada do sistema d20 e certas outras marcas comerciais e direitos autorais pertencentes à Wizards of the Coast (os "Artigos licenciados") em de acordo com as condições especificadas na versão atual do Guia do logotipo da marca d20 System Trademark.
3. Acordo para não concorrer.
Ao usar e / ou distribuir material usando a marca registrada do sistema d20 sob os termos desta Licença, você concorda em não contestar a propriedade dos Artigos Licenciados.
4. Violação e cura.
No caso de você não cumprir os termos desta Licença, você será considerado incumprimento desta Licença. Os feiticeiros da costa tentarão notificá-lo por escrito enviando uma carta registrada ao endereço listado no mais recente cartão de confirmação no arquivo, se houver. Você terá 30 dias a partir da data do aviso (o "período de cura") para curar a violação a satisfação de Wizards of the Coast. Se nenhum cartão de confirmação estiver no arquivo, você será considerado incumprimento desta Licença imediatamente.
Se, no final do período de cura, a violação não for curada, os Feiticeiros da Costa podem rescindir esta Licença sem aviso prévio por Você.
6. Efeitos da rescisão.
Após a rescisão, você deve interromper imediatamente todo o uso dos artigos licenciados e destruirá qualquer inventário ou material de marketing em sua posse com os logotipos d20 do sistema registrador. Você removerá qualquer uso dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 da sua publicidade, site, papel timbrado ou qualquer outro uso. Você deve instruir qualquer empresa ou indivíduo que você é ou se tornar consciente de quem está na posse de qualquer material distribuído por você que contém os logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 para destruir esses materiais. Você suportará exclusivamente quaisquer custos relacionados à realização deste termo da Licença.
7. Penalidade por falta de cumprimento das instruções de terminação.
Se você não cumprir com os efeitos da rescisão, os Wizards of the Coast podem, a seu critério, prosseguir um litígio, pelo qual você será responsável por todos os custos legais, contra você na extensão total da lei por violação de contrato, direitos autorais e violação de marca registrada, danos e qualquer outro remédio disponível.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou novos lançamentos dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20 sem aviso prévio. Você, na primeira oportunidade possível, atualizará todo o material distribuído por Você para usar a versão atualizada e / ou nova dos logotipos de marca registrada do sistema d20. Você pode continuar a distribuir qualquer material pré-existente que tenha uma versão mais antiga do logotipo da marca D20 System.
9. Mudanças nos Termos da Licença.
Os Wizards of the Coast podem emitir atualizações e / ou revisões desta Licença sem aviso prévio. Você irá, o mais cedo possível, em conformidade com os termos atualizados ou revisados ​​desta Licença. Por um período de 90 dias, você pode continuar a distribuir qualquer material pré-existente que cumpra com uma versão anterior da Licença. Posteriormente, o consentimento por escrito deve ser obtido da Wizards of the Coast. As versões subsequentes desta Licença terão um número de versão diferente.
10. Atualizações da informação do Licenciado.
Você pode transmitir uma versão atualizada do cartão de confirmação "card. pdf" a qualquer momento para Wizards of the Coast.
11. Avisos ao Licenciador:
Wizards of the Coast.
c / Divisão de Publicação.
Attn: Departamento de jogos de RPG.
Renton, WA 98057-0707.
12. Sem manutenção ou suporte.
Os Wizards of the Coast não terão qualquer obrigação de fornecer qualquer tipo de manutenção ou suporte em relação aos logotipos do D20 System.
13. Não há garantia / isenção de responsabilidade.
OS ARQUIVOS DE LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DO SISTEMA D20 SÃO DISPONIBILIZADOS NA "BASE". OS COMPUTADORES DA COSTA NÃO FAZEM QUALQUER REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA, SEJA EXPRESSA OU IMPLÍCITA, COMO A APTIDÃO PARA UM FIM ESPECÍFICO, USO OU COMERCIALIZAÇÃO. WIZARDS OF THE COAST NÃO FAZ NENHUMA REPRESENTAÇÃO OU GARANTIA DE QUE OS ARQUIVOS DO LOGOTIPO DA MARCA DO SISTEMA D20 ESTÃO SEM ERROS.

licença de marca registrada do sistema D20
d20 System Trademark FAQ.
Q: O que se entende pelo termo "sistema D20"?
R: O termo se refere ao mecanismo do jogo usado no jogo de roleplay do jogo de passatempos da Wizards of the Coast. É a base para Dungeons & amp; Dragões, Star Wars e outros produtos atualmente lançados ou em desenvolvimento. A marca comercial "d20 System" consiste nas palavras "d20 System" e no logotipo "d20 System". Informações adicionais sobre a marca registrada podem ser visualizadas em: uspto. gov, procurando por "sistema d20".
P: Como o sistema d20 está conectado ao Open Gaming?
A: O sistema d20 foi usado como a raiz do Documento de Referência do Sistema (SRD), uma versão abstrata das regras e conteúdo não-regra dos vários jogos de RPG de D20 dos Wizards of the Coast. O SRD está sendo lançado como um Open Game compatível com os termos da Open Gaming License v1.0a. Consulte as Perguntas frequentes sobre o documento de referência do sistema para obter mais informações sobre o SRD.
P: Como obtenho mais informações sobre o Open Gaming?
A: A versão atual da Open Gaming License pode ser encontrada aqui. (RTF de 12k)
Consulte as Perguntas frequentes da Licença de Jogos Abertos para obter mais informações.
P: Quem possui o sistema d20?
A: A marca "d20 System" é de propriedade da Wizards of the Coast. O documento de referência do sistema também é protegido por Wizards of the Coast.
P: Posso usar a marca comercial "d20 System" sem uma licença da Wizards of the Coast?
R: Você deve consultar o seu advogado antes de tentar fazê-lo. Os Feiticeiros da Costa criaram a Licença de Marca Registrada do Sistema d20 para permitir que você use a marca d20 System Trademark de forma oficialmente sancionada. Qualquer outro uso potencialmente o expõe ao litígio.
P: O que é a licença de marca comercial do sistema D20?
A: A Licença é um sistema simples para permitir que terceiros usem as marcas registradas do sistema d20 e outras propriedades intelectuais substanciais de propriedade da Wizards of the Coast com a permissão da empresa.
P: O que é o Guia do D20 System Trademark?
R: O Guia de marca comercial do sistema d20 é um conjunto expandido de instruções, permissões e proibições incorporadas por referência na licença de marca registrada do sistema d20.
P: Qual é o logotipo d20 System Trademark?
R: É o indicador gráfico quadrado com as palavras "sistema d20" que aparece nas capas de todos os produtos de jogos de RPG compatíveis com Wizards of the Coast d20.
P: O que é o Documento de Referência do Sistema (o "SRD")?
A: O documento de referência do sistema é uma caixa de ferramentas abrangente que consiste em regras, raças, aulas, feiras, habilidades, vários sistemas, feitiços, itens mágicos e monstros compatíveis com a versão d20 System Dungeons & amp; Dragões e vários outros jogos de RPG de Wizards of the Coast.
Q: Que partes de Dungeons & amp; Dragons são Open Game Content?
A: Nenhum dos Dungeons & amp; A linha de produtos Dragons é Open Game Content. Atualmente, o único conteúdo aberto do jogo divulgado pelos Wizards of the Coast é o documento de referência do sistema.
P: quais partes do d20 Modern são Open Game Content?
A: Nenhuma das linhas de produtos d20 Modern é Open Game Content. O conteúdo do jogo aberto do d20 Modern pode ser encontrado no documento de referência do sistema moderno (Г ± MSRDГ®).
P: Quais partes do Star Wars são Open Game Content?
R: Nenhum dos jogos de RPG da Star Wars é Open Game Content.
P: Quais partes do Call of Cthulhu e Wheel of Time são Open Game Content?
R: Nenhuma parte desses jogos é Open Game Content.
P: E as edições anteriores de D & amp; D?
R: Nenhuma edição anterior da D & amp; D é, ou será, lançada como Open Game Content.
R: Você pode encontrar cópias de cada um aqui neste site usando os links acima. As versões no site oficial d20 são as versões atuais "oficiais" desses documentos e devem ser usadas como referência para números de versão, atualizações, erratas, etc.
As perguntas e respostas abaixo referem-se a seções da Licença de Marca Registrada do Sistema d20.
P: Qual é o "cartão de confirmação"?
R: É um formulário simples que você pode usar para contar aos Wizards of the Coast que você está usando a Licença de Marca Registrada do Sistema D20 e deixe-nos saber como entrar em contato com você se precisarmos.
P: O que acontece se não o enviar?
R: Nada. Até o dia em que tivermos um problema com algo que você publicou e não podemos alcançá-lo. Sob essa circunstância, sua capacidade de reagir à nossa queixa será bastante limitada.
P: E se eu não concordar que o Wizards of the Coast é proprietário das várias marcas registradas e direitos autorais enumerados na Seção 1 da licença de marca registrada?
R: Não use a Licença de marca comercial do sistema d20. Ao fazê-lo, você está renunciando ao seu direito de protestar contra a propriedade da empresa nessas marcas.
Q: Por que existe um "Guia" separado?
R: antecipamos fazer mudanças no Guia muito mais frequentemente do que a própria Licença. Ao separar os dois documentos, deve facilitar a atualização do Guia sem desencadear todas as disposições da Licença que podem ser onerosas para vários editores de terceiros.
P: Quais são os "Artigos Licenciados"?
R: são marcas registradas e os direitos autorais enumerados no Guia.
P: E se eu decidir depois contestar a lista de direitos autorais e marcas registradas, os Wizards of the Coast estão reivindicando na Seção 1 da licença de marca registrada?
R: Você estará violando o seu acordo para cumprir a Licença de marca registrada. Como resultado, você pode encontrar-se sendo processado por violação de contrato pela Wizards of the Coast, além de quaisquer outros assuntos legais que possam surgir.
Você deve considerar cuidadosamente suas obrigações de acordo com os termos da Licença de Marcas e consultar o seu advogado antes de tomar qualquer ação.
P: O que significa "período de cura"?
R: É o período de tempo que a Licença deixa de lado para dar-lhe uma chance de resolver um problema que trazemos à sua atenção. Para a maioria das situações, esse período é de 30 dias, mas algumas violações, como uma violação da cláusula de Padrões de Qualidade, resultam em rescisão imediata sem período de cura.
Nota: Se não sabemos como chegar a você (porque você não enviou um cartão de confirmação), os 30 dias passarão sem aviso prévio e, se e quando entrarmos em contato, você terá que tomar passos para remediar sua violação imediatamente.
P: E se eu discordar da Wizards of the Coast quando a empresa afirma que eu violo o Contrato?
R: Você e seu conselheiro jurídico devem entrar em contato imediatamente com Wizards of the Coast e tentar abordar o assunto.
A empresa não tem obrigação de negociar. Se, a seu exclusivo critério, decidir que você violou o contrato, você terá que corrigir o problema dentro do período de cura (ou imediatamente, no caso de alguns tipos de violações) ou você estará totalmente incumprimento da Licença e em risco de litígio.
P: E se eu nunca enviou um cartão de confirmação ou os Wizards of the Coast não possuíam um endereço válido para mim?
R: Dependendo da gravidade do problema, a empresa pode ou não fazer um esforço para localizá-lo e notificá-lo que considera que você viola a Licença. Não é obrigado a fazê-lo.
Q O que significa "Terminação"?
R: Isso significa que você não está mais autorizado a usar a Licença de marca comercial do sistema d20.
P: O requisito de parar de usar o logotipo do D20 System Trademark Logos na Seção 6 se estende a todos os materiais que publico usando a marca registrada?
R: Sim. Estar em violação da Licença por um item perde seu direito de usar a Licença para qualquer outra coisa. A nosso exclusivo critério, podemos permitir que você continue usando a Licença para outros produtos, mas essa é a nossa escolha e, se alguma vez surgir, tomaremos a decisão caso a caso.
Q: A licença parece estar me dizendo que eu tenho que ligar para os meus distribuidores e dizer-lhes para destruir o inventário que eles têm na mão no seu armazém. Verdade?
R: Você deve solicitar a destruição de qualquer material que ostente a marca registrada do sistema d20 uma vez que sua licença para usar essa marca comercial termina. Isso inclui qualquer pessoa que você vendeu um produto que você suspeite razoavelmente ainda pode ter algum inventário não vendido.
P: E eu tenho que pagar os custos incorridos na sequência dos requisitos de rescisão?
R: Isso é correto. Você suportará o fardo por não cumprir os termos da Licença.
P: O que acontece comigo se eu ignorar o encerramento da licença?
R: Você deve consultar o seu advogado antes de considerar tal ação. Você corre o risco de litigação.
P: Por quanto tempo eu realmente tenho que atualizar os materiais em minha posse se o Guia do logotipo mudar?
R: Você deve fazer isso na próxima impressão ou na próxima versão que você lançar. Se o seu trabalho for um arquivo eletrônico (como um site ou um documento PDF), você deve fazer a alteração imediatamente.
P: Que tipo de mudanças provavelmente serão incorporadas nas futuras versões do Guia?
A: termos adicionais podem ser adicionados como "termos definidos", o conteúdo de outras fontes pode estar disponível para você indicar compatibilidade com, etc.
P: A Seção 9 parece contrariar os termos da Seção 8 que me permitem continuar a distribuir material usando uma versão anterior da Licença. Por que é que?
R: A Seção 9 concentra-se em uma alteração na própria Licença. A Seção 8 concentra-se nas mudanças no Guia. Esperamos fazer alterações materiais na Licença raramente, mas quando fazemos, queremos que todos cumpram com a mudança o mais rápido possível.
P: Como eu saberia se uma nova versão da Licença de Marcas Comercial é liberada?
R: Não haverá um processo formal de notificação. Você deve verificar periodicamente o site oficial d20 para qualquer alteração.
As perguntas e respostas abaixo referem-se a seções do Guia de Uso do Logo de Marcas Registradas d20.
Nota: Esta seção assume que você está planejando usar a Licença de Marca Registrada do Sistema d20. Algumas das restrições discutidas abaixo não se aplicam se você não estiver usando a Licença de marca registrada do sistema d20.
P: A seção de introdução é redundante?
R: É apenas uma maneira de se certificar de que está claro que o Guia faz parte de um documento maior; a combinação da Licença de Marca Registrada e do Guia, além de informações da Open Gaming License também.
P: Como eu saberia se uma nova versão do Guia é divulgada?
A: Você precisará verificar regularmente o site oficial d20 para obter atualizações.
P: Como me refiro aos produtos Star Wars d20?
R: Você não. Neste momento, não existe uma boa maneira de fazê-lo. Lucasfilm, Ltd., que controla as marcas registradas da Star Wars, é improvável que libere uma "Licença de Marca Comercial Lucasfilm" como a Licença de Marca Registrada do Sistema d20.
P: Como eu me refiro a Call of Chuthlu ou Wheel of Time?
R: Você não. Os assistentes licenciaram os direitos para usar as marcas registradas e os direitos autorais envolvidos, eles não estão cobertos pela Licença de Marcas Registradas do Sistema d20.
P: A definição de um "Jogo Interativo" me impede de criar um gerador de caracteres?
R: Desde que não inclua aspectos que não sejam Conteúdo Aberto e que o Conteúdo Aberto seja facilmente identificável, não, não.
Observe que a definição de Г ± Interactive Game® no Guia proíbe qualquer programa que relate o sucesso ou o fracasso de uma ação. Isso inclui geradores de personagens que usam dados para pontuações de habilidade, porque em um jogo d20 um número maior é sempre melhor. Rolling an 18 for strength é um resultado preferencial para rolar um 3. Em qualquer circunstância em que um resultado seja quantificadamente melhor do que outro, o software não pode executar a randomização.
Consulte as Perguntas frequentes sobre o software para obter mais informações.
P: A definição de um "Jogo Interativo" me impede de criar um software que ajude os DMs a julgar o combate?
R: Sim, o combate envolve claramente a determinação do sucesso (um golpe) e o fracasso (uma falta).
P: A definição de um "Jogo Interativo" me impede de criar um RPG online, MUD, MUSH, MOO, etc.?
R: Sim. Por favor, não entre em contato solicitando exceções para o seu jogo ou pergunte sobre obter uma licença para fazer um jogo. Wizards tem um licenciado exclusivo para todos os jogos eletrônicos com base em nossos produtos e não pode entrar em licenças de jogos com outras partes adicionais.
P: Eu tenho que usar os Termos Definidos no meu produto?
R: Não. Você não é obrigado a usá-los.
P: Posso adicionar novos termos?
R: Enquanto esses termos não são usados ​​como sinônimos para os termos existentes, sim.
P: Posso ampliar a definição de um termo, adicionando mais significado a um?
R: Não. Você não precisa usar a definição escrita exata, mas você não pode alterar a substância ou o significado da definição.
P: Por que os termos definidos estão tão vinculados a D & amp; D?
R: Porque os Feiticeiros da Costa querem obter o máximo benefício de alavancar as regras D e D como um Jogo Aberto. Ao longo do tempo, haverá termos adicionados para refletir as necessidades de outros gêneros além da fantasia medieval.
P: Posso definir uma nova habilidade?
P: Posso usar um método diferente para determinar os resultados da habilidade?
R: Não, porque você não pode explicar a criação de personagem.
P: Posso definir uma nova classe?
P: Minha nova classe poderia usar um gráfico de pontos de experiência diferente?
R: Você poderia publicar um novo gráfico. E você poderia dizer que os personagens de uma determinada classe usam esse gráfico. Mas você não poderia realmente explicar o que fazer com o gráfico.
P: Eu poderia criar um sistema de caracteres que não usasse classes e / ou níveis?
P: Posso referenciar o Manual do Jogador ou qualquer outro produto d20 publicado?
R: O Guia do Sistema d20 estabelece diretrizes para quais produtos você pode se referir e como isso deve ser feito. Você pode fazer referência ao Manual do Jogador por título ou como o PHB. Dungeon Master's Guide e Monster Manual não podem ser referenciados pelo nome, apenas abreviatura (DMG e MM, respectivamente). O Manual de Psionics e o Jogo de RoleJogos modernos do D20 devem ser referenciados pelo título completo. O Guia do Sistema d20 será atualizado com detalhes sobre como se referir a novos livros à medida que seu conteúdo entra no SRD.
P: Posso usar números de página?
R: Não. Futuras versões dos livros podem ser repaginadas, de modo que o material não aparecerá de forma confiável na mesma página em várias impressões dos livros.
P: Posso criar um novo tipo de atributo de caractere e incluir regras para determinar seus valores na criação de personagens?
R: Você pode criar um novo atributo, definir o que é e definir os intervalos de valores que ele possa ter. Você não pode explicar o que fazer com ele na criação de personagens. Descobrir como transmitir essa informação ao leitor parece impossível para mim, mas já estive surpreendido. Boa sorte!
P: Existem outras restrições para além das indicadas na seção "Restrições obrigatórias", que devo ter em atenção?
R: Apenas as várias restrições no próprio OGL e as diretrizes para o uso de marcas comerciais e referências de produtos.
P: Por que os Padrões de Qualidade foram adicionados à Licença?
R: Para melhorar o valor da marca, garantindo que não seja usado de forma irresponsável. Como licenciante, é nosso direito de limitar a natureza do material que outras editoras criam sob licença. Reservamo-nos o direito de testar os limites do material apropriado para um jogo de RPG. Nós escolhemos não permitir que outros testem esse limite, porque, francamente, com uma licença aberta, não podemos ter certeza de que um licenciado não vai muito além do que todos os outros concordariam é razoável.
Colocar esse limite na licença impede o mau gosto de uma editora de danificar o valor da marca D20 para todos os outros. Os editores ainda são bem-vindos para criar produtos com temas maduros, é claro - evitando imagens excessivas ou gratuitas (conforme detalhado no Guia de marcas registradas do sistema d20), ou publicando sob o OGL e não usando a marca registrada d20.
Nós já usamos esses padrões (e temos por muito tempo) para muitos de nossos outros produtos, como novelas e jogos eletrônicos, mas não possuímos padrões correspondentes para produtos d20. Essas mudanças significam que cada licenciado que usa nossas marcas registradas é mantido em padrões semelhantes.
P: E se eu não tiver certeza de que meu produto está em conformidade com os Padrões de Qualidade listados no Guia?
R: entre em contato com Charles Ryan (Charles. RyanWizards) se você tiver alguma dúvida sobre a porção de padrões de qualidade da licença.
P: O que significa "5% do texto de um Produto Coberto"?
R: Isso significa que 5% do texto, contagem de palavras ou contagem de letras, deve ser Open Game Content. Não se refere ao tamanho físico.
P: Por que eu preciso incluir a versão em inglês do aviso da marca registrada?
R: porque a versão em inglês é o único texto juridicamente vinculativo que você pode usar. Wizards of the Coast isn't interesting in validating the translations into dozens of languages by hundreds of publishers.
Q: Do I have to tell people to use the D&D Player's Handbook ?
A: No, though you must include one of the Mandatory Trademark Use notices listed in the Guide.
Q: Can I say that my product requires the Dungeon Master's Guide or other D&D books?
A: Only if those titles listed in the Mandatory Trademark Use section of the Guide. Dungeon Master's Guide is not listed in this section.
Q: Can I say that my product requires the Star Wars Roleplaying Game ?
Q: Can you explain in more detail what the section titled "d20 System Trademark Logo Usage Requirements" means?
A: It specifies the physical appearance of the logo itself. That section gives you the rules to follow when you're printing the logo on the cover of your book, or using it in your advertising. Basically the logo must be at least a certain size and it cannot be altered or distorted in any way.
Q: How do I use the Licenses to create a d20 System-compatible work?
A: First, you have to understand how to use the Open Gaming License. There is a comprehensive FAQ regarding the OGL.
Second, you need to figure out what you want to use directly or derive from the SRD (meaning, use the SRD as the basis of, or use as a reference, or use as a template for an extension, addition, or change). All that material is automatically Open Game Content.
Third, you need to decide what, if any, of your own content that you have independently created to license as brand new Open Game Content.
Fourth, you need to decide, what, if anything, you want to assert a claim as Product Identity for, as that term is defined in the OGL.
Fifth, you need to decide how you want to "clearly identify" the Open Game Content in your work. See the Software FAQ for additional information if you intend to use the licenses within software.
Sixth, you need to decide how you want to "clearly identify" the Product Identity in your work.
Seventh, you have to decide if you want to use the d20 System Trademark License, and if you do, you have to make sure that you follow all the restrictions described in the d20 System Trademark License and the d20 System Trademark Guide.
When you've done all that work (whew!), you're ready to create a work that uses the OGL, has Open Game Content, might have Product Identity, and may comply with the d20 System Trademark License.
At a minimum, your work will:
1: Include the complete text of the Open Gaming License.
2: Clearly indicate how to identify the Open Game Content in your work.
3: Clearly indicate how to identify the Product Identity (if any exists) in your work.
4: Indicate that the Open Game Content is licensed and distributed using the Open Game License.
5: Add an updated COPYRIGHT NOTICE section of the Open Gaming License to indicate any content you have added or derivative work you've included.
6: If you used the d20 System Trademark License, you'll be able to use the d20 System logo, and if you want to, you can claim compatibility with the d20 System, Dungeons & Dragons, and/or d20 Modern Roleplaying Game as described in the Trademark Logo Usage Guide.
When you're ready, all you have to do is distribute your work. You can email it, post it on a website, print it out and make copies, or have it professionally printed. It's a good idea to send a copy of the "card. pdf" file in the d20 System Trademark archive file to Wizards of the Coast, just in case any problems crop up later.
You don't have to ask anyone for permission.
You don't have to submit any content for approval.
You don't have to pay anyone a royalty.
Go to the d20 System main page for information about the d20 system.
or check out the d20 System message boards for lively discussion.
В© 1995-2008 Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE (UNAUTHORIZED UNOFFICIAL) OPEN GAMING LICENSE OGL D20 FAQ.
INTRODUÇÃO.
Welcome to the UN-authorized an UN-official Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the OGF-D20 Open Gaming License. This FAQ was created largely from discussions and observation that occurred on the (now defunct) Open Gaming Foundation LISTSERV – a mailing list that was created to provide a forum for discussion of the Open Gaming License (OGL) and the D20 System Trademark License (D20 STL). The LISTSERV was maintained for many years by the "Open Gaming Foundation" – a non-existent and now-defunct organization administered by Ryan S. Dancey, an executive at Wizards of the Coast (a brand of the Hasbro Corporation). This FAQ is not authorized by, nor in any way connected with, either Wizards of the Coast or the (non-existent) Open Gaming Foundation. As of this writing, the remnants of the “foundation’s” website still exist, and additional information, including copies of the latest versions of both the OGL and the D20 STL can be obtained at opengamingfoundation/.
LEGAL STUFF.
Much of the material on this page discusses legal issues such as copyrights and trademarks. The readers should be aware that the author is not an attorney nor an expert in the field of copyright or trademark law, and that the contents of this page do not constitute legal advice. Readers should be cautious not to rely on the information as it is presented on this page as legal advice, and should obtain the services of a qualified attorney if they do feel they need verifiable advice concerning legal matters.
· These pages Copyright 2000 - 2009 by Faustus von Goethe and Mana Forge Games.
· Address all comments and proposed changes to fausthotmail.
· Acknowledgements (in order of first contact):
Roy Williams, Ryan Dancey, Doug Meerschaert, Andy Hughey, Brad Thompson.
D20 D&D SYSTEM REFERENCE DOCUMENT.
As part of the Open Gaming / D20 effort, Hasbro released much of the core Dungeons and Dragons (D&D 3.5 Edition) core rules as open source. The totality of those open source files can be downloaded at the links below:
A. GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPEN GAMING LICENSE.
A.01. What is the Open Gaming License?
A.02. What is the Open Gaming Foundation?
A.03. What is Open Game Content?
A.04. Isn’t the OGL just like the GNU Open Software Foundation?
A.05. Why a new OGL - isn't it just like GNU's "Free Documentation License" released this past March?
A.06. Why is the OGL Copyrighted?
A.07. What is Hasbro and/or Wizards of the Coast (WotC)?
A.08. What happened to Wizards of the Coats and TSR?
A.09. Isn’t this just an evil corporate marketing ploy?
A.10. Yes, but isn’t Wizards now owned by Hasbro, and aren’t they a large corporation?
A.11. Isn’t the way this presented somewhat deceptive?
A.14. Legally, what is the effect of releasing my gaming content under OGL?
A.16. Is there any available study data on the RPG industry?
B. CONCERNING THE D20 SYSTEM TRADEMARK LICENSE.
B.01. What is the D20 System Trademark License (STL)?
B.02. How does D20 relate to the OGL?
B.03. What are the D20 System Trademarks?
B.04. What is the “D20 System Logo”?
B.05. What does it mean that if product has the “D20 system logo” displayed on it?
B.06. What is a world-wide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license?
B.07. What is a “restricted term” or “restricted definition”?
B.08. What if WotC changes the "Restricted Terms" list in the future – couldn’t they do this to mess with potential developers?
B.10. What is the “D20 System Reference Document” (SRD)?
B.11. How come the “D” in “D20” is capitalized in text when people are writing about it but is shown in lower case on the D20 logo?
C. CONCERNING THE D20 SYSTEM.
C.02. What constitutes “information on creating characters?”
C.03. What constitutes “information explaining the effects on characters of earning experience or advancing in ‘level’"?
C.04. HELP! I'm trying to develop a D20 game here for GENCON and I just realized that I can’t do that without a copy of the D20 SRD?
C.05. Could I write a product under these rules and say on the box that it was "compatible" with D&D?
C.06. What is an “action resolution system”?
C.07. What is the difference between a “flat” or “straight” randomizer and a “curved”, “bell shaped” or “normal” randomizer in an RPG action resolution system?
C.08. Was the D20 effort a successful one?
C.09. What went wrong with the D20 effort?
D. CONCERNING COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS.
D.05. Can I copyright my gaming system?
D.06. Why can’t gaming systems be copyrighted?
D.07. Wow, so I could just take one of WotC's books, rewrite it, then sell it as my own, right?
D.08. So I couldn't use words like "Hit Point", or "Armor Class"?
D.10. What is a Derivative Work?
D.11. What is the difference between ( R ) and “circle R”?
E. CONCERNING THE D&D GAME.
E.02. What about (__insert any question here__) concerning D&D Third Edition?
F. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.
F.01 Where can I get specific examples of D20 SRD “Stats Blocks”?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
A. GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPEN GAMING LICENSE.
A.01 What is the Open Gaming License?
The Open Gaming License (OGL) is a copyrighted document of Wizards of the Coast (WotC), incorporated, finalized in 2001. The OGL presents a legal framework for distributing portions of a gaming system and allowing other designers to use, modify, and make additions to that system, without running afoul of copyright law. The essence of an Open Gaming License is that you can use, modify, and distribute the covered content, but you must allow others to do the same.
A.02 What is the Open Gaming foundation?
The Open Gaming Foundation was a proposed non-profit organization that purported to promote the development of open games and advocates for the concept of open gaming in general. The Open Gaming Foundation was supposedly a creation of Mr. Ryan Dancey, and as such had indirect ties to Wizards of the Coast. It has been argued on the list that the Open Gaming Foundation is just another marketing tool.
In 2006, after doing absolutely nothing with this “foundation” for over six years, Mr. Dancey announced the closing of his list-serve and websites. As of this update, some remnants of his site are still up and running at opengamingfoundation , but have not been updated since 2003.
Many observers believe that the Open Gaming Foundation was, in reality, simply a distraction to divert attention from the fact that Hasbro / Wizards was using (and perverting) the tenants of GNU General Public License to drum up interest in their Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 products. This notion is partially supported by the release of D&D 4.0 and Hasbro’s subsequent total discontinuance of any support for any open gaming effort.
A.03 What is Open Game Content?
Open Game Content is any existing copyrighted game material that is specifically designated by the copyright owner to be covered by the OGL - PLUS any "Derivative Work" created that incorporates Open Game Content directly in its design. If an author is careful to identify which parts of his work use existing Open Game Content and which parts are 100% original, then the author can retain the copyright to that part of his original work that is not derivative of Open Gaming Content.
That was the theory.
The reality is that it is very easy, and became common practice, to write any “OGL” product in such a way as to obfusticate any derivative work and to make that product virtually useless for re-use.
A.04 Isn’t the OGL just like the GNU Open Software Foundation's GPL?
The OGL is modeled on the GNU Open Software License, but the Open Gaming License has several glaring differences from the GNU's copyleft, most notably that the GNU software foundation distributes all of their Intellectual Property (IP) under their license with the belief that sharing in this fashion promotes a stronger industry, while Hasbro used the OGL to define a very small subset of their IP that could be used as “open”, with market dominance being their stated objective. More importantly, Hasbro inserted clauses into the OGL that made it virtually useless for fostering a GPL-type community.
A.05 Why a new OGL - isn't it just like GNU's "Free Documentation License" released this past March? Why not use that?
According to Mr. Dancey, the Open Gaming License is distinctly different from the GNU "Free Documentation License." The GNU license is supposedly unwieldy due to its complexity and it does not address the issue of maintaining contributor credit for work that goes into the product. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the GNU Documentation License does not allow for documents that are part free and part copyright. This is a key concept that Mr. Dancey stated “to be critical to the success of this effort”.
A.06 Why is the OGL copyrighted?
The OGL is copyrighted so that it (and its terms) are not altered. This is not unusual as it is common in the software industry for organizations working under an Open Software License to copyright that license.
A.07 What is Hasbro and/ or Wizards of the Coast (WotC)?
The Hasbro corporation is the current owner of the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) intellectual property, having acquired it in their purchase of Wizards of the Coast in September of 1999.
WotC was a gaming product company that rocketed to stardom (and huge cash flows) by inventing and selling the enormously popular “Magic: The Gathering” collectible card game. WotC purchased TSR in 1997 primarily to keep TSR from going under. Wizards was itself purchased by the enormous game and toy company HASBRO in September of 1999.
The previous owner and CEO of Wizards used some of his gains to purchase the rights to the Gaming Convention GENCON, which subsequently went Bankrupt in 2008.
In 2002 Hasbro dissolved Wizards as a separate business unit, eliminating many of the original management staff and re-aligning the various products under a number of Hasbro “Brand Managers”. Shortly thereafter, Ryan Dancey was looking for work.
See the website for the various Hasbro products managed under the “Wizards of the Coast” brand at:
A.08 What happened to Wizards of the Coast / TSR?
Wow, you are out of touch … TSR was purchased in 1998 by Wizards of the Coast. To a large extent this was primarily because Wizards did not want the company to go bankrupt, and see the product line disappear or languish. At the time, TSR was in serious financial trouble. A description of the buyout and of that financial trouble can be seen here:
Wizards of the Coast was itself purchased by the enormous game and toy company HASBRO in September of 1999. In 2002 Hasbro dissolved Wizards as a separate business unit, eliminating many of their management staff and re-aligning the various products under a number of Hasbro “Brand Managers”.
A.09 Isn’t this just an evil corporate marketing ploy?
While it IS freely acknowledged that the D20 STL is one of many marketing tools used by WotC to promote sales of their D&D product line, this does not make it necessarily evil. Companies (any company – from the smallest gaming store to a giant conglomerate) are in business to make money. Without that profit motive, there would be no gaming industry, and very few published games. This fact that it is presented in this fashion is not inherently evil.
However, speculation on subsequent events has suggested that Hasbro acted in a truly deceptive fashion to represent the OGL and the Open Gaming Foundation as something that they were never truly intended to be. They made enormous quantities of money doing so, and when the money ran out, dropped any shred of support for any “Open Game” effort and released a new system without making it “open”. Small producers who got excited by the OGL and who were not “insiders” bore the brunt of the losses for Wizard’s business decisions.
That notwithstanding, other people have speculated that the OGL, AS IT WAS STRUCTURED was an elaborate plot by Mr. Dancey and others at Wizards to bring D&D entirely into the open source realm. It remains to be seen as to whether that effort might or might not be successful.
A.10 Yes, but isn’t Wizards now owned by Hasbro, and aren’t they a large corporation?
Since 2002, Wizards of the Coast no longer exists as a separate business unit. All decisions about products and marketing are made by Hasbro on the basis of what will result in the maximum profit to the Hasbro corporation.
A.11 Isn’t the way this is being presented somewhat deceptive?
In perfect hindsight, the entire OGL effort can be seen as a marketing effort masquerading as a “Open Source” initiative. The Open Gaming Foundation was a key part of that deception – since presenting these materials under the guise of a “foundation” and under the domain “dot” (traditionally used by non-profit organization) when in fact the whole deal is completely owned by an employee of Wizards was extremely deceptive. However through many online conversations both the ownership and the profit motive were apparent, so very few people were actually deceived. Many people however (what has been referred to as “the Slash-Dot Crowd”) were in fact alienated (even angered) by the prospect of a supposedly “open” license being misrepresented in this fashion.
What has been the most damaging (in particular for small producers) was the mistake notion (some say outright mis-representation) that the effort was an “Open Source” initiative that would foster an enduring “linux-like” community of designers and developers. In reality, the fundamentally flawed, “non-open” nature of the OGL license fostered greed, paranoia, and a truckload of products where their open source nature was intentionally and irretrievably broken.
A.12 Who is/was Ryan Dancey?
Ryan Dancey was a Vice President at Wizards of the Coast and WAS the “Brand Manager” for the D&D product line during the 3rd Edition kickoff. He is the architect of the OGL as it relates to D20 and Wizards of the Coast. He grew up playing D&D and speaks in very passionate terms about the continuing existence of the core system, both from a game standpoint and a profitability standpoint.
In 2004 Mr. Dancey was involved in a fair amount of controversy as an elected member of the board of the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) – allegations of hacking and manipulating the elections of that organization ultimately led to a messy scandal and his untimely resignation from his position with GAMA.
After being separated from Hasbro in 2002 during one of the many downsizings that occurred there, Mr. Dancey founded an organization called “Organized Play” that he was CEO of for some time. As of this writing his website “organizedplay” is no longer active.
Mr. Dancey’s personal blog is online at the following link:
Some of his interviews can be seen at:
A.13 Who is/was Bill Slavicsek?
Bill Slavicsek was the Director of Roleplaying R&D for Wizards of the Coast and the Chief Designer for the D&D Third Edition Game. Here is an interview:
A.14 Legally, what is the effect of releasing my copyright gaming content under OGL?
There are two related effects. The first is that you are allowing other people to print and sell your work, provided they give you proper credit. This is attractive from a financial standpoint for one and only one reason - by creating a “stripped down” version of your core product and releasing it as OGL, you can encourage others to create works based on that system, while still holding on to the most valuable parts. This will tend to broaden your market because more people will be writing and playing in your gaming system, and therefore more people will be likely to purchase your products. This is exactly what WotC did with the D20 STL and D20 SRD.
A.15 What is “RPG”?
RPG stands for “Role Playing Game”. FRPG stands for "Fantasy Role Playing Game".
A.16 Is there any available market research data on the RPG industry?
Yes, a (very old) study conducted and released by WotC can be seen HERE (courtesy of Gaming Outpost at t gamingoutpost/.
B. CONCERNING THE D20 SYSTEM TRADEMARK LICENSE.
B.01 What is the D20 System Trademark License (STL)?
The D20 System Trademark License has been OFFICIALLY RESCINDED by the Hasbro corporation, and can no longer be used.
The D20 STL was a different license from the OGL, provided by WotC to encourage game producers to develop products that required the D&D Players' Handbook for their use. It was nothing more than a license to use a trademark.. This license allowed a publisher to incorporate Open Game Content provided by WotC, and identify the source of that content with the "D20" trademark. Publishers must adhere to the rules of the STL in order to be eligible to use the "D20" trademark. WotC believes this effort will encourage game producers to develop products that will require the D&D Players' Handbook for their use.
B.02 How did the D20 relate to the OGL?
The D20 System Trademark License has been OFFICIALLY RESCINDED by the Hasbro corporation, and can no longer be used.
The information in the D20 System Reference Document represents the parts of D&D that Hasbro released as Open Content. Aside from that, D20 and OGL are unrelated.
B.03 What are the D20 System Trademarks?
The D20 System Trademarks were the words “D20 System” and the image of the red, white, and black D20 system logo.
B.04 What is the “D20 System Logo”?
The D20 system logo is a trademark of WotC and consists of a black “d20” in a black box outline surmounting a red box with the word “system” in it, all on a white background. It can be viewed at opengamingfoundation/d20.html.
B.05 What does it mean that if product has the “D20 system logo” displayed on it?
Only this - that the D&D 3.0 or 3.5 Players Handbook is necessary to understand how characters are generated and how they advance in level. It DOES NOT mean that the game is in any way compatible with D&D, although most materiel written with that intent should certainly make an effort to qualify for the D20. The D20 logo PLUS the word "Fantasy" on the cover, (along with appropriate cover art) would certainly tip off potential buyers that the product might be able to be used in a D&D setting.
B.06 What is a world-wide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license?
This means that anybody in the world can use the license, they don't have to pay royalties, and they understand that they are not the only ones who get to use the license. This is provided, however that they adhere to the terms of the license.
B.07 What is a “restricted term” or “restricted definition”?
Part of an irrelevant argument – now that the license has been rescinded.
These are words and concepts that you may not use in your publication in any way other than as described in the D20 SRD, and still keep the privilege of using the D20 logo on that publication. The general public will not have access to the exact list of words until the D20 SRD is released in August 2000.
B.08 What if WotC changes the "Restricted Terms" list in the future – couldn’t they do this to mess with potential developers?
Part of an irrelevant argument – now that the license has been rescinded.
Not currently. The D20 <DRAFT> STL currently contains the verbiage, “If the D20 System Reference Document is revised by Wizards of the Coast, you may use any version of the ‘Restricted Terms and Definitions’ section of any version of the D20 System Reference Document issued by Wizards of the Coast.”. This means that all versions of the restricted terms and definitions list are equally valid.
B.09 What does “SRD” mean?
D20 System Reference Document. “System Reference Document” is the term coined by Hasbro to refer to a document which presents all of the “open” parts of another work or system in a single place. The “D20 System Reference Document” is the official “core” part of D&D 3.5 (less character creation and advancement) – the material that was actually released as “OPEN” by Hasbro for the D&D system. You can download the entire system from our site at the links below:
B.10 What is the “D20 System Reference Document” (SRD)?
The D20 System Reference Document is the.
official “core” part of D&D 3.5 (less character creation and advancement) – the material that was actually released as “OPEN” by Hasbro for the D&D system. You can download the entire system from our site at the links below:
B.11 How come the “D” in “D20” is capitalized in text when people are writing about it but is shown in lower case on the D20 logo?
We don’t know, but we think that WotC just thinks it looked cooler that way on the logo, and people just think it looks better the other way in print.
C. CONCERNING THE D20 SYSTEM.
C.01 What is D20?
The D20 system consists of the entirety of the Core Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 gaming system – essentially a distillation of the “core gaming system” of D&D3E, excluding character generation rules and the specific effects of advancement.. “D20” is the (now RESCINDED) license and logo for third party products based on that system. It was the stated hope of Hasbro that D20 in fact becomes the industry standard action resolution system for game products, supplanting the myriad of systems currently being used by game designers. This, of course, did not happen.
C.02 What constitutes “information on creating characters?”
Again, not really relevant because the D20 license no longer exists. Many variants on “D&D 3.5” are now available around the web that incorporate both character creation and character advancement. The general public will not know the exact answer to this question until the D20 System Reference Document is released in August 2000. Mr. Dancey has stated, "The rule for character creation is ‘pick a race and class.’ ” A general statement has also been made to the effect that you cannot say "You roll four 6-sided dice and drop the lowest, adding them together to get an ability score." The essence of this is that your work should require the D&D Players Handbook for its explanation of character generation - IF you want to use the "D20 System Trademark.
C.03 What constitutes “information explaining the effects on characters of earning experience or advancing in ‘level’"?
The general public will not know the exact answer to this question until the D20 System Reference Document is released in August 2000. Mr. Dancey has explained this concept by stating "The process of level advancement is "when a character exceeds threshold Z in experience points, increment that character's level by one, either by increasing an existing class by one level, or by taking a new class at level 1."
C.04 HELP! I'm trying to develop a D20 game here for GENCON and I just realized that I can’t do that without a copy of the D20 SRD?
C.05 Could I write a product under these rules and say on the box that it was "compatible" with D&D?
In a word, NO! But it has become accepted practice to write products and include the phrase “Compatible with Edition 3.5 of the most popular fantasy role-playing system in history.”
The D20STL stated:”3.3.3. You may not use the Dungeons & Dragons(R) or Wizards of the Coast(R) trademarks in advertising or in any material separate from the Publication, or in any other way other than that described in Section 3.3.1 and 3.3.2.” Section 3.3.1 of the STL stated: ”3.3.1. You may place a notice in the Publication that reads: ‘Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons(R) Player's Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast(R).If typography permits, the "(R)" indicia should be converted to the recognized "circle R" personagem.
What this meant was that the most you could do is put “Requires the Use of the Dungeon & Dragons (R) Players’ Handbook, Third Edition.” This notice can be placed anywhere, including on the cover of the publication. What you could do is to put the D20 logo on the cover, at the top of a full color glossy art piece of an obvious fighter, obvious thief, and obvious mage standing in an obvious dungeon, holding obvious swords and facing down an obvious orc.
C.06 What is an “action resolution system”?
An action resolution system is a method of determining the outcome of a proposed action of a character in a RPG game. It is generally agreed that an action resolution system uses some form of randomizer, be it a dice role or some other method of determining an outcome. Note that this explanation is a simplification.
C.07 What is the difference between a “flat” or “straight” randomizer and a “curved”, “bell shaped” or “normal” randomizer in an RPG action resolution system?
A flat or straight randomizer (like D20) uses a die roll or some other method where the probability of occurrence of any number is equally likely, i. e.; it is just as likely to roll a “1” as it is to roll a “10”, or a “20”. A bell shaped or normal randomizer uses some method that results in the middle numbers of all the possible outcomes being more likely than those at the extremes. For instance, the probability of rolling two six-sided dice and rolling a twelve is 1 chance in 36, while rolling a seven is six times more likely at 6 chances in 36. In a RPG context, the extremes are much harder to reach on a bell-shaped system. Some people maintain that the actual realities of combat are more easily modeled using a bell-shaped randomized.
C.08 Was the D20 effort a successful one?
To answer that question, you have to define what you mean by “successful”. Any definition of success needs to start with what the intended goal. Here are some conclusions based on alternate goals:
1. Was D20 successful in enhancing Hasbro’s revenue?
In the short run, yes. D20 dramatically enhanced community interest in the D&D product and (more importantly) allowed Hasbro to focus on producing high-margin hardcover “rules” books without having to produce historically low-margin modules and adventure-based supplements. If you doubt this statement, consider that in the nine years after releasing D&D second edition, TSR released more than two hundred and ten (210+) adventure modules for use with the D&D 2E system. In the nine years after releasing Third Edition, Hasbro released less than twenty (<20) modules for D&D 3.0/3.5.
2. Was D20 successful in allowing third party producers to develop and market products for the D&D game?
Absolutamente. Many, many companies were able to produce a truly staggering quantity of content to be used with D&D third edition. So many in fact that keeping up with the sheer quantity of products being released became impossible.
3. Was D20 successful as a marketing brand, recognized an valued by consumers?
No. Ultimately, a glut of products, many of which were knockoffs, re-compilations of previous work, or of very poor quality resulted in the devaluation of the brand. This reached a point of critical mass during the winter of 2005-2006 when the market was so glutted with D20-based products that were not selling that several key distributors went out of business. At this time, gaming stores stopped carrying the vast majority of third-party products (with the exception of a few proven products from a very top tier of publishers). By 2007, in conjunction with the planned D&D 4.0 release, Hasbro marketing representatives went on record as stating that the D20 brand “had become effectively worthless.”
4. Was D20 successful in creating and “Open Source Revolution” - what its creator (Dancey) stated was its actual goal that “… D&D as a game should benefit from all of the people who work on the Open gaming derivative of D&D.”
No. As an “Open Source Revolution” the OGL/D20 has ultimately been a dismal failure. See section C.09 below for a discussion of some of the reasons. All hope is not lost however. The core D&D 3.5 Rules as released under OGL can never be “closed” again, and there are still some efforts out there to extend the 3.5 rules set into a truly open, truly community supported effort extensible gaming system.
C.09 What went wrong with the D20 effort?
The reason that the D20/OGL effort failed completely as an open source effort lies in the fatal flaw of the Open Gaming License (OGL). This flaw is known as Paragraph 7, “Product Identity” or just simply “The Product Identity clause”. Paragraph 7 allows an author of an OGL work to close unspecified portions of their work for virtually any reason and in virtually any conceivable way – including a host of ways that effectively make re-use either impossible or logistically impractical. The problem lies both in the definition of Product Identity, but also in the total lack of enforcement of the license by Hasbro once it was released. Here is clause 7 of the OGL along with the OGL definition of Product Identity:
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.
DEFINITION "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creature,; personagens; 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;
A true “open source” effort rests on the notion of what the Free Software people refer to as a “copyleft” (rather than a “copyright”). A copyleft is a license (e. g. the GNU GPL and the Free Software Foundation) which stipulates that (without exception) any contribution to the work automatically also became open source and could be used by anybody else for any reason. A copyleft is a powerful social tool, because it prevents anyone from directly profiting from the work of another person. Not only does this mean that each person to use a part of truly open source effort can do so for free, but it contributes to a sense of community among the various contributors – a tremendous sense of being part of something bigger than oneself.
As a result of greed and/or fear on the part of individual D20 producers and lack of enforcement of their own license by Hasbro, it became common prac tice for an OGL producer to put something similar to the following statement as the “Product Identity” statement in virtually all D20 products:
“All content in this work which is not directly derivative of already open content is considered product identity.”
The practical effect of this practice was to make the product unusable for any re-use whatsoever. The notion of “derivative” is an entirely subjective one and the courts and the legal profession have spent millions of dollars and hundreds of years proving exactly that. Without the fundamental notion of shared re-use that is so key to any Open Source effort, the whole effort ultimately came crashing to a halt – at least as far as “Open Source” was concerned.
D. CONCERNING COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS.
D.01 What is a Copyright?
A copyright is a construct of intellectual property law that protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software and architecture. For more information consult:
lcweb. loc. gov/copyright/ For the Library of Congress' Copyright Pages.
D.02 What does a copyright protect?
A copyright is a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. Go here to see What Works Are Protected.
D.03 When is my work protected?
Your work is protected under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form so that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
D.04 How long does copyright last?
From the US COPYRIGHT OFFICE:
The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, signed into law on October 27, 1998, amends the provisions concerning duration of copyright protection. Effective immediately, the terms of copyright are generally extended for an additional 20 years. Specific provisions are as follows:
* For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection will endure for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. In the case of a joint work, the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death.;
* For anonymous and pseudonymous works and works made for hire, the term will be 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from the year of creation, whichever expires first;
* For works created but not published or registered before January 1, 1978, the term endures for life of the author plus 70 years, but in no case will expire earlier than December 31, 2002. If the work is published before December 31, 2002, the term will not expire before December 31, 2047;
* For pre-1978 works still in their original or renewal term of copyright, the total term is extended to 95 years from the date that copyright was originally secured. For further information.
D.05 Can I copyright my gaming system?
In a word, NO! A gaming system cannot be copyrighted. But you CAN copyright the written instructions that you write to set up your gaming style and describe how to play the game. See: copyright. gov/fls/fl108.html for additional information.
D.06 Why can’t gaming systems be copyrighted?
Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods of doing something. You may express your ideas in writing or drawings and claim copyright in your description, but be aware that copyright will not protect the idea itself as revealed in your written or artistic work. For additional information, see: copyright. gov/fls/fl108.html for additional information.
D.07 Wow, so I could just take one of WotC's books, rewrite it, then sell it as my own, right?
Errado. You cannot simply rewrite someone else's work and claim it is your own writing. What you COULD do is separate out all of the details of how the game is played, then write YOUR OWN gaming system that incorporated the rules and concepts expressed in those rules. You would have to be very careful to use your own words, though.
D.08 So I couldn't use words like "Hit Point", or "Armor Class"?
Yes, you could. Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. There may be an exception to this, however. The D20 STL refers to a document called the "Restricted Terms and Phrases List" that will be a list of words that have special requirements if you want to use the D20. This list is not yet available. You also have to be careful not to run afoul of trademarks. In some cases, things like names may be protected as trademarks. WotC has already stated that names Like "Elminster", "Dungeons and Dragons", and "Forgotten Realms" are trademarks and they will defend them in court. Contact the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office for further information.
D.09 What is a Trademark?
A TRADEMARK is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, which identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others. A service mark is the same as a trademark except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. Throughout this booklet the terms "trademark" and "mark" are used to refer to both trademarks and service marks whether they are word marks or other types of marks. Normally, a mark for goods appears on the product or on its packaging, while a service mark appears in advertising for the services. Trademark rights arise from either (1) actual use of the mark, or (2) the filing of a proper application to register a mark in the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) stating that the applicant has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce regulated by the U. S. Congress.
D.10 What is a Derivative Work?
From the U. S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE:
A “derivative work,” is a work that is based on (or derived from) one or more already existing works. It is copyrightable if it includes what the copyright law calls an “original work of authorship.” Derivative works, also known as “new versions,” include such works as translations, musical arrangements, dramatizations, fictionalizations, art reproductions, and condensations. Any work in which the editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications represent, as a whole, an original work of authorship is a “derivative work” or “new version.” A typical example of a derivative work received for registration in the Copyright Office is one that is primarily a new work but incorporates some previously published materiel. This previously published material makes the work a derivative work under the copyright law. To be copyrightable, a derivative work must be different enough from the original to be regarded as a “new work” or must contain a substantial amount of new material. Making minor changes or additions of little substance to a preexisting work will not qualify the work as a new version for copyright purposes. The new material must be original and copyrightable in itself. Titles, short phrases, and format, for example, are not copyrightable.
D.11 What is the difference between (R) and “circle R”?
"(R) has become a common way to represent the "circle R" symbol which is commonly used to identify a trademark and denote that the use of that Trademark is restricted. The "(R)", unlike the "circle R" has yet to be recognized by a court of law as an official symbol.
D.12 What is a copyleft?
Unlike a copyright, a "copyleft" is a way of forcing everyone to allow anyone to use a given work pretty much any way they want to, and not be able to restrict those rights. The GNU Public License is the foundation of the attempt to create a similar license for gaming, currently known as the Open Gaming License. Some argue that the Open Gaming License has several glaring differences from the GNU's copyleft, most notably that the GNU software foundation distributes all of their Intellectual Property (IP) under their license with the belief that sharing in this fashion promotes a stronger industry, while WotC is using the OGL to define a very small subset of their IP, with market dominance being their stated objective.
E. CONCERNING THE D&D GAME.
E.01 What is D&D3E / D&D 3.5E?
“Dungeons and Dragons” or “D&D” or “D&D3E” was WotC’s rewrite of the core rules of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons that have been fundamentally unchanged since the game’s release in 1978. The product was officially kicked off in August of 2000 with the release of the D&D Players Handbook.
D&D 3.5 E was an “upgrade” to the 3.0E system that was released several years later. The upgrade was ostensible sold as an “improvement” to the system, but close examination revealed many changes which were simply arbitrary and which seemed designed solely to make the 3.5 system no longer “compatible” with the 3.0 system. In other words, it seemed as though Hasbro intentionally wrote 3.5 to capitalize on the success of 3.0, and to force the market to purchase all new versions of their core books. Edition 3.5 also had the very chilling effect of making virtually all of the third party D20 material written up to that time suddenly seem “outdated”.
E.02 What about (__blank__) concerning D&D Third Edition?
This FAQ was not designed to handle D&D3E specific questions. Hasbro’s FAQs for the (no longer supported) 3.5E product have been taken down:
wizards/3e/ WotC’s Official D&D FOURTH EDITION (not open source) Site.
F. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.
F.01 Where can I get specific examples of D20 SRD “Stat Blocks” and other material?
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The History, Current State of OGL Publishing, Pathfinder, and “d20”
March 2016 Update: Some notable things have changed since this article was first published, and an updated version is forthcoming!
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The History, Current State of OGL Publishing, Pathfinder, and “d20”
The Open Gaming License and d20 System Trademark License were first released in 2000. Since then, other trademark/compatibility licenses for other systems and games have been created, and the use of other open licenses has proliferated.
The Open Gaming License still remains popular (while the d20 System Trademark License was retired in 2008), however most OGL material published in recent years (2010-) is geared towards being support material for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License.
This article explains the history behind these various licenses, along with some guideline for how they can be used in publishing.
Definições.
Open Game Content: Material that is specifically licensed under the Open Game License, created by Wizards of the Coast.
Product Identity: Material included in a book that includes Open Game Content that is specifically defined by the publisher as not being OGC.
Third Party Publisher: A publisher creating material that is designed to be compatible with another publisher’s game; most commonly used to refer to d20 System - or Pathfinder-compatible product.
Which was the First d20-licensed book?
(The Freeport Trilogy, a later compilation of the Freeport Adventures)
Green Ronin’s Death in Freeport, Atlas Games’ Three Days to Kill and Necromancer’s Games’ PDF The Wizard’s Amulet hit the ground on the same Gen Con weekend as Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook did in 2000.
Three Days to Kill was locally available at The Source Comic and Games in the Twin Cities, Minnesota in the week before Gen Con.
What’s an SRD?
SRD refers to System Reference Document: often a Rich Text or HTML document that only includes Open Game Licensed material, designed to be used by a publisher as a starting point of reference or a manuscript. By using vetted System Reference Documents, publishers could help ensure that they were only OGL material.
Wizards of the Coast released multiple System Reference Documents (For 3.0 and 3.5, and d20 Modern), as did Guardians of Order (Anime d20).
Paizo maintains a SRD for Pathfinder called the Pathfinder Reference Document, and there is a SRD maintained by the public at at d20pfsrd/ which also contains some material from 3rd Party Pathfinder publishers.
It has always been recommended that if you wish to produce material based on Open Game Licensed material, that you only refer to SRDs whenever possible, as opposed to mining material from printed books.
The Open Gaming License.
The first thing to understand about the Open Gaming License is it is not designed specifically for any one gaming system. Anyone can write material and place it under the Open Gaming License. However, most commonly the OGL has been used to re-use material placed under it by Wizards of the Coast: the 3.0 and 3.5 SRD, and the d20 Modern SRD.
As far as content licenses go, the Open Gaming License is incredibly simple (it’s shorter than this article!). It allows you to re-use and modify material that has been placed under it, and also allows you to intermingle that Open Game Content (OGC) with closed content, which is described as Product Identity. This allows you to, for example, use monsters from the SRD in an adventure, with you declaring that the “flavour text” descriptions of the other characters, events, and locations in the adventure are your Product Identity.
One of the conditions in the OGL (Section 7) does not allow you to use anyone else’s Product Identity. Be aware that simply using the name of a Wizards of the Coast-published spell or monster that is not included in the System Reference Document may cause you to run afoul of this clause. This includes using that Product Identity “as an indication as to compatibility”—which means you cannot (without obtaining permission otherwise) indicate that your product is compatible with Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or any other game title, trademark, etc. The full list of what is considered by default to be Product Identity is listed under section 1 of the OGL.
Beyond not including material that you cannot include under the OGL in your product, the most important legal aspect of publishing something that includes OGC is Section 6 and Section 10, which stipulates that you must include a copy of the Open Game License in your product, and you must correctly add to and update the Copyright Notice portion of the license to include the Copyright Notice from any Open Game Content that you used in your product, and also append your own Copyright Notice to it. This section is numbered as Section 15 and often referred to as such.
In order to prevent problems, you should keep careful track of when you sourced OGC, and where you sourced it from, and save their Copyright Notice / Section 15 verbiage so you can include them in your own product.
Of course, the OGL has further clauses to it: you need to read and understand the entire thing before using it. If you find portions of it difficult to understand, I suggest you look for similar projects and see how they handled things, and if you need clarification after that, try to speak to the creators of those projects.
If you are attempting to re-use something that you believe may be Open Game Content but aren’t sure if it is, or if it’s Product Identity, ask the publisher of that project. Assuming that something is Product Identity is always safest.
The Open Gaming License is irrevocable: if you place content under that license, it is perpetually under it.
The full text of the Open Gaming License: wizards/d20/files/OGLv1.0a. rtf.
The d20 System Trademark License.
The d20 STL allowed publishers, if they adhered to more stringent rules, to place a d20 System logo on their book, and also to advertise compatibility with Dungeons and Dragons Third Editio n, d20 Modern, and a few other Wizards of the Coast titles.
As the d20 System Trademark License is no longer available for use, the details of those restrictions and benefits are essentially irrelevant at this point.
d20 STL Revocation.
In June 2008, Wizards ceased allowing publishers to use the d20 System Trademark License. Publishers with print books were granted a six-month period to sell off remaining physical stock, and six months to remove any electronic books from the marketplace, or modify them to be OGL-compatible.
Some publishers re-branded their books, creating a handful of new logos/brands to identify them as OGL and former d20 titles—but none of those new brands obtained widespread traction. As of early 2015, many d20-licensed books still exist in PDF form with minimal or no modifications to their branding or content.
Game System License (D&D Fourth Edition)
The GSL was announced in August 2007, launched in June 2008 and revised in February 2009. It was not widely adopted by third party publishers with many—including d20 stalwart Green Ronin Publishing rejecting it for being too limiting and too focused on serving Wizard’s of the Coasts needs.
With D&D Fourth Edition’s relatively short lifespan and lack of third party products, the GSL’s legacy isn’t in what it created directly, but what it created indirectly: Pathfinder.
Pathfinder.
If you are interested in the history of Pathfinder and Paizo, I recommend reading Paizo’s 10th Anniversary Retrospective, available here: paizo/paizo/blog/tags/paizo/auntieLisasStoryHour—it goes into great detail on the company’s history.
For those who want to publish material that is compatible with Pathfinder, you can do so in two ways:
Use the OGL.
Pathfinder material is published under the Open Gaming License, as it is derived from the 3.0/3.5 SRD (amongst a few other sources). You can use the Pathfinder SRD to create derived and compatible works as long as you follow the Open Gaming License. However, this does not give you the right to use the Pathfinder name or any other trademarks (as they are Product Identity).
Paizo Inc. Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game Compatibility License.
This license allows you to use the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility Logo on your product, and to indicate compatibility with Pathfinder and refer to specific Pathfinder books. You are still required to use the OGL if you include any OGL content, and obey all of its clauses regarding Product Identity, Section 15, etc.
Paizo requires you to submit an application for the Compatability license, including a description of the products you intend to make.
Beyond that, the following page outlines the major facets of the license: how you can refer to Pathfinder and different Pathfinder titles, how you may and may not display the logo, etc: paizo/pathfinderRPG/compatibility.
Old School Movement / Retroclones.
An unexpected result of the Open Gaming License was the resurgence in availability of material that was compatible with prior versions of D&D. Multiple publications used the Open Game Content in the SRD to essentially recreate older editions of D&D and several of those rules sets have been further supported with original adventures and other content—essentially creating one (or more?) ecosystems that harken back to the style of rules and source material of the late 70s and early 80s!
Other OGL Material.
(13th Age, from Pelgrane Publishing and Fire Opal Media, by Rob Heinsoo & Jonathan Tweet)
Notable fantasy material licensed under the OGL, beyond Pathfinder , includes 13th Age from Pelgrane Publishing and Fire Opal Media. It has a Compatibility License: pelgranepress/site/?p=14447.
Mutants and Masterminds from Green Ronin publishing is one of the longest running complete OGL games, having spanned three editions. It has a compatibility license, Super Powered by M&M: mutantsandmasterminds/licensing-mutants-masterminds/
(Mutants & Masterminds from Green Ronin Publishing, by Steve Kenson. One of the true survivors of the OGL era.)
Spycraft from Crafty Games has a compatibility license, Powered by Spycraft: crafty-games/licensing/spycraft.
The Open Gaming License has been applied to other games and gaming material beyond the “d20-derived” style of gaming born from Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition. This includes Traveller from Mongoose Publishing, the GUMSHOE System by Pelgrane Press, Fate from Evil Hat Productions (which is also available under a Creative Commons license), and Fudge from Grey Ghost Games. Fudge is notable in that it was first published under a license of the author/publisher’s own devising, and years later was placed under the Open Gaming License—which allowed Evil Hat Productions to truly move forward with the Fate gaming system which was originally derived from Fudge .
Of further note is the Open D6 system, from West End Games. The D6 system first appeared in the Ghostbusters RPG and was later used in the first licensed Star Wars RPG. Decades later the system was released under the Open Gaming License as OpenD6, after a second incarnation of West End Games failed to capture the market with their revamped series of D6-based books.
(Fate Core, from Evil Hat Productions, is available under both OGL and Creative Commons licenses.)
Licenses other than the OGL.
Roleplaying games and sourcebooks have also been published under various Creative Commons licenses, but not all of them allow commercial re-use.
A few other licenses, such as the GNU Free Documentation License, have been used on occasion, and some games—such as Fudge, before it was licensed under the Opening Game License—had their own licenses designed to be used by one game only.
Trademark licenses without Open Licenses.
There are also a number of games that allow you to publish compatible material with a compatibility logo, but that do not have any open licensed content for you to re-use, or any requirements that your material be open-licensed. This includes Pinnacle’s Savage Worlds : peginc/licensing/
and the Hero System from Hero Games.
Creating Open Content in 2015 and Beyond.
If you have the freedom to choose a license for all-new material, I suggest that the following considerations are the most important:
Is the license appropriate for the type of material you are going to publish? The Open Gaming License was specifically designed for the text of a gaming book. Creative Commons licensed are aimed at mixed-media works: text + art + design, but you can use a CC license to only license part of a work—such as all the text or all the art or “all of chapters 15, 16, and 17” while not touching the remainder of the work. Does using the license grow the audience for your material—does it give you access to a community of fans? Does the license make your material available to use to others in ways that you find acceptable? If you have bought or licensed work from others to appear in your material (artwork, writing, etc), does the contract you bought/licensed it under allow you to republish the material under an open license? Most publishers buy material from authors and artists under Work For Hire contracts, and thus the publisher owns the copyright and get choose to re-license the work under any open license they choose. Ethically, people creating work that you publish should be aware that you plan on open-licensing it, too!
The following are my personal suggestions for how to license material. Please read and consider the licenses carefully; what is right for one person/organization may not be right for others. What is right for one project may not be right for your next project, either!
—If you want to create material for a game or setting that uses a specific license, use it.
—If you want to create a new game, not dependant on material already under one of the existing open licenses, use one of the Creative Commons Licenses. These licenses don’t have the d20/fantasy/D&D implications that the OGL tends to have, and can allow for no commercial re-use, no derivatives, etc.
—If you want to create a new game, not dependant on material already under one of the existing open licenses, but with plenty of open-licensed material available to be used with it or converted to be used with it, use the OGL.
—If you want to create fantasy material with the widest possible commercial audience, produce material under the Pathfinder Compatibility License.
—If you want to create fantasy material with some degree of built in audience, but want the least restrictive license possible, use the OGL.
Publishing your own SRD.
If you are releasing a lot of open licensed content, you should consider releasing it in a System Reference Document style. While originally publishers such as Wizards of the Coast and Guardians of Order released SRDs in the universal Rich Text Format, most are now released as web pages—usually using wiki software so they can be edited and amended by the community. Some SRDs are created and maintained entirely by the fan community.
Releasing a SRD will encourage people to use your material for their own works, as it will make it even more clear which material is available to be re-used.
Thanks to the backers of my Patreon project for helping fund this article, including, but not limited to: Brian Allred, Tara Brannigan, Jeff Eaton, Eleanor Holmes, Andrew Kenrick, Adam Tinworth, Lester Ward, Evil Hat Productions, and Melior Via.
In particular, thanks to John Dunn, Ryan Macklin, Craig Maloney, and Lester Ward for feedback on the initial draft of this article.
Special thanks to Jason Jensen for editing and access to his extensive collection of d20 titles.