Re: [WW] Pilots? Pretty please?

[lizard <lizard@mrlizard.com>]

Kent Wayson wrote:

> 
>> I am in a state or awe at this. So what you are saying is that I write a
>> game system based on the d20 OGL. Then anyone can photocopy my book, or
>> scan it (ASCII) and give it to whomsoever they wish *without* paying me
>> for it and there's nothing I can do about it?
>>
>> Bizarre.
>>
>> I'm off to set up my scanner.
>>
>> ASCII versions of everything ever produced for d20 will be available for
>> free download from my website shortly. I won't be charging anyone for
>> it, but fear not, I will mention the OGL at every opportunity.
>>


You need to do more than 'mention' it -- you need to keep Section 15 
correctly updated for each source you copy from.

And be aware that, in a given page, there will be likely be a mix of PI 
and OGC. PI used within otherwise open content is still protected. 
Here's a hypothetical example.

"Elminster's Ridiculous Overkill"
Wiz 9
Effect:"This spell causes 1000d10 damage to everything on the planet."

In the copyright notice, "Elminster" is declared Product Identity, but 
it also notes "All spells in this book are Open Gaming Content". What 
does this mean to you?

It mean's you can scan the spell, but, before you post it under the OGL, 
you must remove the PI -- the name "Elminster". Change it to "Elmer's 
Ridiculous Overkill" and off you go! (Note, BTW, that some publisher's 
wouldn't make "Elminster" PI -- while other publishers would make the 
entire spell name PI. Tread carefully!)

Now think about doing this for every page. A single error, anywhere, and 
the entire document is voided. For a web page, this isn't much of a 
problem, because you have a grace period to correct errors.

Except for one thing. When you publish (and this includes posting to the 
web) under the OGL, you are making a promise. You are promising you have 
the rights to use the material you are posting. ANYONE ELSE can reuse 
your material. If you screwed up, and THEY get into trouble because of 
it, they'll pass the lawsuit right on to you. Open Content creates a 
'web of trust', and it isn't a game. There's real lawyers and real 
companies and real money involved.

The license is clear. You CAN scan, upload, republish, and otherwise do 
any damn thing you want with any OGC published under the OGL. But you'd 
better be certain you're ONLY using open content. It's not as easy as it 
seems -- many publishers make it as difficult as possible to 'get at' 
the open content, by mixing a lot of PI in with it.

Now do you see why no one has created such a website? :) Lots of people 
talked about doing this when the OGL was first created. The actual 
technical hassles, though, make it much more complex than "scan and post".