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The Blog's Copyright notice and Open Gaming License Version 1.0a

November 4, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Edited on December 11, 2007

I have been posting some open game content of the D&D game for quite some time now with the usual nonchalance of the internet user. While I’ve been joking about how having a Cease and Desist letter by Wizards would validate this blog’s existence, I don’t actually want any real beef with anyone. Especially if this blogging gig ever develops in anything.

Furthermore, I will soon start publishing at least one post where I borrow opened and closed contents from d20 publishers. I’ve already asked Monte Cook for a specific case and he gracefully agreed to let me use closed content of his variant Sorcerer class for a post and has kindly instructed me on some Open Gaming Licence legal etiquette (Thank you!!) .

So this means I have to post the Open Gaming Licence and format it in regards to material I use.

And while I’m doing a legal post, I might has well put the blog’s copyright notice in there too.

I don’t expect there’ll be a lot of comments here…
Copyright Notice
All contents of the documents posted by myself on this domain (http://chattydm.net) and subdomains, is copyright 2007 by Philippe-Antoine Ménard. All reference to OGL game mechanics are subjected to the Open Gaming License Version 1.0a and are considered Open Gaming Content.

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.

1. Definitions: (a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; 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; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

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.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000–2005, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

d20 System Reference Document Copyright 2000–2005, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich
Redman, and Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

The Complete Book of Eldritch Might Copyright 2004, Monte J. Cook

Chaositech, Copyright 2003, Monte J. Cook

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Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games

Comments

  1. Kem CPU says

    November 4, 2007 at 8:31 am

    Thank you!

  2. ChattyDM says

    November 4, 2007 at 8:35 am

    Huh?

    Welcome…. I guess.

    🙂

  3. Yan says

    November 4, 2007 at 8:43 am

    I guess it’s a necessary evil. It certainly his better then having lawyer at your door steps…

    This one of things you don’t want to have any contact with in your life… 😉

  4. PM says

    November 4, 2007 at 10:46 am

    For sure, lawyers should be avoided as much as possible… Trees too, and tree wielding lawyers.. those are nasty.

  5. ChattyDM says

    November 4, 2007 at 12:11 pm

    Lol…

    You do realize that this post is likely to be the one most read by lawyers… I hope they have a sense of humour…:)

  6. Dave says

    November 6, 2007 at 8:00 am

    I am wondering if Hasbro will pull some tom foolery when 4th Ed. is released.

  7. ChattyDM says

    November 6, 2007 at 10:01 am

    The jury is still out on that one.

    If they pull the plug on the Open Gaming Licence, they’ll have a lot (and I mean a lot) of angry people.

    From what I recall reading on Enworld (before I shut down everything 4e, so I can manage my expectations more sanely) the open gaming license will prevail and a 4e version will exist.

    The OGL was a boon to Hasbro, hopefully the execs will be bright enough not to touch something successful….

    Ahh, I’m such a Naive Optimist sometimes…

  8. ve4grm says

    November 6, 2007 at 4:00 pm

    The 3.5 OGL will remain in effect, no worries. It will not, however, apply to 4e material.

    4e will have its own OGL (and its own SRD), though. This has been explicitly stated. Both the SRD and OGL have been key players in making 3e as big as it is, and they won’t give that up.

About the Author

  • The Chatty DM

    The Chatty DM is the "nom de plume" of gamer geek Philippe-Antoine Menard. He has been a GM for over 40 years. An award-winning RPG blogger, game designer, and scriptwriter at Ubisoft. He squats a corner of Critical Hits he affectionately calls "Musings of the Chatty DM." (Email Phil or follow him on Twitter.)

    Email: chattydm@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//category/chattydm/

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