Fair Use Friday

Anyone looking to stream a terrific interview should check out the Roll For Combat guys' YouTube video with Ryan Dancey. Yes, it's two hours and twenty minutes long...time you could spend watching a film or something. I listened to the thing while doing household chores and waiting in my car at (a very rainy) soccer practice. It's fascinating, not only discussing the legal ramifications of the original OGL, but also the history, purpose, and intention of it, why it came about, how it affected the gaming industry, possible consequences of WotC/Hasbro's attempt to "revoke it," and reasons why they would torpedo themselves (and upset their fan base) taking the actions they are.

If you're a person interested in the nuts-and-bolts of the industry behind the hobby, it's very good stuff.  Certainly more informative and interesting than anything I could write about the subject myself.

Regarding Trademark Infringements

I wonder if Dan Proctor will hit me with a lawsuit for stating my B/X Companion is meant to to be used in conjunction with

"...game systems like Labyrinth Lord, published by Goblinoid Games."

After all, I realize now that I failed to use the little "TM" symbol. And, no, I don't intend to change the text now that the thing is at the printers.

One or two of my blog readers have noted recently (in emails) that the images I've posted of the book don't appear to include the OGL text. That's because it doesn't. The reason for my lack of legalese ass-covering is two-fold:

1) I barely had enough room for the book as written...there was no extra space for legal mumbo-jumbo, and

2) I know too little about this whole OGL thing to make heads or tails of it.

Hopefully, this won't land me in any hot water. I've done my utmost best to not use any of WotC/Hasbro's IP in my game (you will not find the phrases "dungeons & dragons," "dungeon master," "carrion crawler," or "mind flayer" anywhere in my book), but it's always possible I might have missed something. I mean, does WotC own the rights to the Gygax name? I did write "Gary Gygax" once or twice.

I have read the OGL, and frankly don't get how it would even apply to my book. My book is not a "retro-clone" of anything...it certainly isn't an attempt to clone Mentzer's Companion rules. It's NOT meant to be compatible with any of WotC's published material. The fact that it is to be used in conjunction with certain out-of-print material that is owned by Hasbro, doesn't seem to warrant signing on to the OGL...it could be used in conjunction with other game systems not published by WotC, and I'm not signing licenses with them.

Anyway, as I said, I'm not using any of their "intellectual property," and something that is so clearly branded B/X Companion should hardly be considered to dilute the good name of "4th edition Dungeons & Dragons." Even people that read this blog send me emails asking what "B/X" is! I don't know how much more I could have separated myself while still creating derivative artwork of my own. Putting an OGL in my game would have been linking myself to WotC for (what appears to be) little or no gain.

And you know what? I really, REALLY don't want to be linked to WotC. At all.

I just hope Dan Proctor doesn't sue me. I don't even mention his name!