Just going to leave this here it's WotC's explanation/response to the OGL debacle as of 1/13/2023.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl
Oh boy let's discuss this shall we:
First, we wanted the ability to prevent the use of D&D content from being included in hateful and discriminatory products
Second Sentence and they are already gaslighting.
Second, we wanted to address those attempting to use D&D in web3, blockchain games, and NFTs by making clear that OGL content is limited to tabletop roleplaying content like campaigns, modules, and supplements
Web3-buzzword, nebulous
blockchain game-buzzword, nebulous application
NFT- buzzword dead application
And third, we wanted to ensure that the OGL is for the content creator, the homebrewer, the aspiring designer, our players, and the community—not major corporations to use for their own commercial and promotional purpose.
Translation: It's ok for the little guy to make stuff, but anyone making a considerable amount of Cash, you fucking better pay us.
Driving these goals were two simple principles: (1) Our job is to be good stewards of the game, and (2) the OGL exists for the benefit of the fans. Nothing about those principles has wavered for a second.
1. Liar and False
2. No it was designed for ANYONE who wanted to write for D&D to do so AND to sell their works if they so chose to do so. A half-truth.
That was why our early drafts of the new OGL included the provisions they did. That draft language was provided to content creators and publishers so their feedback could be considered before anything was finalized.
False again as you don't sign draft contracts and expect them to be taken into Law. OGL 1.1 was set to go into effect as is.
In addition to language allowing us to address discriminatory and hateful conduct and clarifying what types of products the OGL covers, our drafts included royalty language designed to apply to large corporations attempting to use OGL content. It was never our intent to impact the vast majority of the community.
Again with the gaslighting and morality police. Now they've gone up from "only 20 companies" to "Large Corporations!" Also, considerign the vast majority of the community falls between the 50k-750k range that is a significant chunk of people.
However, it’s clear from the reaction that we rolled a 1.
insert that Meme here
It has become clear that it is no longer possible to fully achieve all three goals while still staying true to our principles.
You mean we found out you were going to fuck the community over in your pursuit of getting extra ROI percentage points? Why not be honest with us here?
The next OGL will contain the provisions that allow us to protect and cultivate the inclusive environment we are trying to build and specify that it covers only content for TTRPGs.
OGL 1.0a does this already
That means that other expressions, such as educational and charitable campaigns, livestreams, cosplay, VTT-uses, etc., will remain unaffected by any OGL update. Content already released under 1.0a will also remain unaffected.
OGL 1.0a does all this already at 1/10 the word count
What it will not contain is any royalty structure.
here starts the walk-back attempt and damage control
It also will not include the license back provision that some people were afraid was a means for us to steal work. That thought never crossed our minds
No WOTC you never thought of it as "stealing" only being able to take popular content and use it for free, forever, without paying the creators or acknolweding them. You wanted the community to build your VTT platform's content for free.
Under any new OGL, you will own the content you create. We won’t. Any language we put down will be crystal clear and unequivocal on that point.
OGL 1.0a does this already
The license back language was intended to protect us and our partners from creators who incorrectly allege that we steal their work simply because of coincidental similarities.
That's called Trademark infrigement and can be settled in court. Also, OGL 1.0a does this already if you use the content you must attribute the creator and no one can get sue happy.
As we continue to invest in the game that we love and move forward with partnerships in film, television, and digital games, that risk is simply too great to ignore. The new OGL will contain provisions to address that risk, but we will do it without a license back and without suggesting we have rights to the content you create. Your ideas and imagination are what makes this game special, and that belongs to you.
How can you make a D&D movie and use the trademark and not be sued? OGL does not allow the use of the "D&D" logo in any shape or form. This is the heart of the issue in how they can protect the brand and use it for a Netflix show.
A couple of last thoughts. First, we won’t be able to release the new OGL today, because we need to make sure we get it right, but it is coming.
Good luck with that leaking submarine you call a company in anything coming out will now be scrutinized 16 ways to sunday.
Second, you’re going to hear people say that they won, and we lost because making your voices heard forced us to change our plans. Those people will only be half right. They won—and so did we.
Nice pompus and smug backhanded compliment you gave yourself WOTC. Whichever lawyer and marketing schelp wrote that you better fire for their sheer hubris. Now is the time to be humble instead of arrogant. Another 1 on your Diplomacy check.
Our plan was always to solicit the input of our community before any update to the OGL; the drafts you’ve seen were attempting to do just that.
You can't use drafts for contracts as we've determined.
We want to always delight fans and create experiences together that everyone loves. We realize we did not do that this time and we are sorry for that. Our goal was to get exactly the type of feedback on which provisions worked and which did not–which we ultimately got from you. Any change this major could only have been done well if we were willing to take that feedback, no matter how it was provided–so we are. Thank you for caring enough to let us know what works and what doesn’t, what you need and what scares you. Without knowing that, we can’t do our part to make the new OGL match our principles. Finally, we’d appreciate the chance to make this right. We love D&D’s devoted players and the creators who take them on so many incredible adventures. We won’t let you down.
A community feedback forum with a draft of the OGL could have gone a long way into preventing this shitshow. Hiding all this behind the scenes with lawyer speak and NDA BS has shown WOTC is a terrible steward and does not have the interest of the players at heart only their own corporate greed.
I give this a 4/10 on the Damage Control meter. They tried, better to put more points in Persuassion next level.