The Open Game License (or OGL) is a public copyright license that may be used by tabletop role-playing game developers to grant permission to modify, copy, and redistribute some of the content designed for their games, notably game mechanics. However, they must share-alike copies and derivative works.
Language of the license[]
The OGL describes two forms of content:
Open Game Content (or OGC)
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Product Identity (or PI)
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Product Identity is content covered by normal copyright.
Using the OGL[]
By attaching this license game developers allow the use of their OGC and any additional content they may have indicated to be OGC. This use is perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive as long as the use is accompanied by a copy of the OGL with all the Copyrights updated to credit the contributors of all OGC that was used. All used OGC is to be indicated with a notice.
Licensees are prevented from distributing, copying, or modifying PI, and may not use the contributor's name for the purposes of marketing or advertising, unless permission is acquired through a separate license or agreement with the holders of the PI.
Finally, the OGL requires attribution be maintained by the copying of all copyright notices from OGC a licensee is copying, modifying or distributing. This requires that the license notice itself must be altered by adding all copyright notices to the Section 15 part of the license.
Background[]
It was published by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 to license their Dungeons & Dragons game as the System Reference Document, or SRD, in a move spearheaded by Ryan Dancey.[1] It is commonly used with the d20 license to allow individuals, amateur and professional companies and groups to publish the SRD and derivative works under the d20 System trademark.[2] In June 2008, Wizards of the Coast transitioned to a new, more restrictive royalty-free license called the Game System License (GSL), which is available for third-party developers to publish products compatible with Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition.[3][4] The GSL is incompatible with the previous OGL, however the OGL is non-revokable, and remains in widespread use.[3]
Those individuals, groups and publishing companies that license their works under the OGL and similar documents are sometimes collectively referred to as the "open gaming movement".[5]
See also[]
- List of OGL Publishers
- Game System License
- Open Gaming
- System Reference Document
References[]
- ↑ Dancey, Ryan (2002-02-28). "The Most Dangerous Column in Gaming" (Interview). Interview with Ryan Dancey. Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/md/md20020228e. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
- ↑ Cook, Monte. "The Open Game License as I See It". http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?mc_los_154. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tito, Greg (28 December 2011). "The State of D&D: Present". The Escapist. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9293-The-State-of-D-D-Present.2. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ "D&D 4th Edition Game System License". Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080417a. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2004-01-26). "The Open Gaming Foundation: Frequently Asked Questions". http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/oglfaq/20040123e. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
External links[]
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- THE (UNAUTHORIZED UNOFFICIAL) OPEN GAMING LICENSE OGL D20 FAQ
- Wizards of the Coast: The d20 System and the Open Gaming License
- Open Game Definitions: Frequently Asked Questions Version 2.0 -- January 26, 2004
- Open Gaming Foundation
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