Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast has responded to the intense backlash they’ve received from fans over the controversial changes they’ve been planning to D&D’s Open Game License.
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The statement was released on D&D Beyond and Wizards of the Coast said “it’s clear from the reaction that we got a 1.” Yes, yes, they did. OGL allows creators and publishers to use fantasy RPG rules and ideas in their own works, and the new OGL 1.1 system would hurt the publishers and creators who help make D&D as popular as it has become. You can read the details about it here.
As for the statement, they say their team wants to be “good stewards of the game” and that the Open Game License was for the fans, which is why “our first drafts of the new OGL included the provisions they made. That draft was provided to content creators and publishers so their feedback could be considered before anything was finalized.”
The statement also sets out the new plan they are officially moving forward with. Read the statement below and let us know what you think!
When we initially thought about reviewing the OGL, it was with three main goals in mind. First, we wanted the ability to prevent use of D&D content from being included in hateful and discriminatory products. Second, we wanted to address those attempting to use D&D in web3, blockchain games, and NFTs by clarifying that OGL content is limited to tabletop RPG content such as campaigns, modules, and supplements. And third, we wanted to make sure the OGL was meant for content creators, homebrewers, aspiring designers, our gamers, and the community, not large corporations to use for their own commercial and promotional purposes.
Underlying 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. None of these principles wavered for a second.
That’s why our first drafts of the new OGL included the provisions they contained. That draft language was provided to content creators and publishers so their feedback could be considered before anything was finalized. In addition to language that allows us to address discriminatory and hateful conduct and clarify what types of products the OGL covers, our drafts included royalty language designed to be applied to large companies attempting to use OGL content. It was never our intention to impact the vast majority of the community.
However, it is clear from the reaction that we scored a 1. It has become clear that it is no longer possible to fully achieve all three while remaining true to our principles. So here’s what we’re doing.
The next OGL will contain provisions that will enable us to protect and nurture the inclusive environment we are seeking to build, and will specify that it only covers content for TTRPGs. This means that other expressions, such as educational and charity campaigns, live streams, cosplay, VTT usage, etc., will remain unaffected by any OGL update. Content already released under 1.0a will also remain unaffected.
What it will not contain is any royalty structure. It will also not include the license return provision which some people feared was a means for us to steal work. That thought never crossed our minds. Under any new OGL, you will own the content you create. We won’t. Any language we put down will be crystal clear and unambiguous on this point. The backwards-language license was intended to protect us and our partners from creators who falsely claim that we steal their work simply because of coincidental similarities. As we continue to invest in the game 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 so without a return license and without suggesting that we have rights to the content you create. Your ideas and imagination are what makes this game special and this belongs to you.
A couple of final considerations. First, we won’t be able to release the new OGL today, because we need to make sure we get it right, but it’s coming. Secondly, you will hear people say that they won and we lost because your voice made us change our plans. Those people will only be half right. They won, and so did we.
Our plan was always to solicit input from our community before any updates to the OGL; the drafts you saw were attempting to do just that. We always want to delight fans and create experiences together that everyone loves. We realize we didn’t this time and we’re sorry for that. Our goal was to get exactly the kind of feedback about which arrangements worked and which didn’t, that we ultimately got from you. Any change that important could only have been done well if we were willing to take that feedback, no matter how it was delivered, so we are. Thanks for caring enough to let us know what works and what doesn’t, what you need and what scares you. Without knowing it, we cannot do our part to make the new OGL match our principles. Finally, we would appreciate the chance to make things right. We love the devoted D&D players and the creators who take them on so many incredible adventures. We will not let you down.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
