Wizards of the Coast: rewrite the OGL 1.1 that harms the D&D community
The Issue
UPDATE: Thanks for finding your way to my petition! There is a very similar one that has picked up a bigger following. If you're interested in signing off encourage you to check it out here: https://chng.it/k6dzXMgxnn
... I'll be taking this one down soon so we're not dividing our efforts. Thank you again for helping to support our wonderful 3rd party creators ♥️
On January 5th Wizards of the Coast's Open Gaming License 1.1 for D&D was leaked to io9 (https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634 In spite of reassurances by WotC in December 2022 this leaked license, if accurate, will have a chilling effect on the D&D community and its legion of creators.
It includes, but is not limited to:
- The removal of "perpetual, worldwide rights" that was given to creators in the original OGL;
- Granting WotC "nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, sub-licensable, royalty-free license" to use content created by creators;
- Apps, songs, music, work produced for VTTs, and other "non-printed or non-static" formats will not be allowed to be produced for commercial use, thereby disincentivising their production;
- A 20-25% royalty to be paid on crowdfunding revenue over $750,000 (note that this would apply to revenue generated, not profits on the final product)
- Patreon tips only being allowed for content that is free elsewhere
While some aspects of the leaked OGL are commendable (for example giving WotC the ability to terminate the agreement if content is “blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic, bigoted or otherwise discriminatory”) other clauses such as those bulleted above are clearly damaging to creators and the fans willing to pay for their amazing content.
The document notes that WotC is aware it “will receive community pushback and bad PR, and [they're] more than open to being convinced that We made a wrong decision.” This is a clear invitation for the community to show how unhappy we as a community are with the proposed licence and have a chance to see these terms changed.
The D&D community has a rich history of 3rd party creativity, and the freedom of the original OGL has formed the backbone of many of our favourite content creators and publishers. Such restrictive terms can only harm creators, D&D, and fans.
Wizards of the Coast: please change these terms!
*Image from <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/greet-final-battle-alone-illustration_14402165.htm#query=dungeons%20and%20dragons&position=16&from_view=keyword">Image by liuzishan</a> on Freepik
The Issue
UPDATE: Thanks for finding your way to my petition! There is a very similar one that has picked up a bigger following. If you're interested in signing off encourage you to check it out here: https://chng.it/k6dzXMgxnn
... I'll be taking this one down soon so we're not dividing our efforts. Thank you again for helping to support our wonderful 3rd party creators ♥️
On January 5th Wizards of the Coast's Open Gaming License 1.1 for D&D was leaked to io9 (https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634 In spite of reassurances by WotC in December 2022 this leaked license, if accurate, will have a chilling effect on the D&D community and its legion of creators.
It includes, but is not limited to:
- The removal of "perpetual, worldwide rights" that was given to creators in the original OGL;
- Granting WotC "nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, sub-licensable, royalty-free license" to use content created by creators;
- Apps, songs, music, work produced for VTTs, and other "non-printed or non-static" formats will not be allowed to be produced for commercial use, thereby disincentivising their production;
- A 20-25% royalty to be paid on crowdfunding revenue over $750,000 (note that this would apply to revenue generated, not profits on the final product)
- Patreon tips only being allowed for content that is free elsewhere
While some aspects of the leaked OGL are commendable (for example giving WotC the ability to terminate the agreement if content is “blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic, bigoted or otherwise discriminatory”) other clauses such as those bulleted above are clearly damaging to creators and the fans willing to pay for their amazing content.
The document notes that WotC is aware it “will receive community pushback and bad PR, and [they're] more than open to being convinced that We made a wrong decision.” This is a clear invitation for the community to show how unhappy we as a community are with the proposed licence and have a chance to see these terms changed.
The D&D community has a rich history of 3rd party creativity, and the freedom of the original OGL has formed the backbone of many of our favourite content creators and publishers. Such restrictive terms can only harm creators, D&D, and fans.
Wizards of the Coast: please change these terms!
*Image from <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/greet-final-battle-alone-illustration_14402165.htm#query=dungeons%20and%20dragons&position=16&from_view=keyword">Image by liuzishan</a> on Freepik
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Petition created on 6 January 2023