Magnathyr |
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read all of point 9 of OGL1.0a very carefully... now think like you are WotC and want to interpret that to benefit ONLY you...
"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."
Do you see where the catch is???... notice that the word "authorized" is missing from between the words 'any' and 'version' at the end.
With the wording of what was leaked of OGL1.1, WotC would make OGL1.0a no longer an "authorized" license, and version 1.1 would supersede 1.0a ..... thus they could effectively take ownership of any and all property released under 1.0a because, even though 1.0a is no longer "authorized", it would be property that was published under "any" version of the OGL.
Once WotC updates to 1.1 as it stands, they could effectively give a 30 day notice to cease ALL operations falling under 1.0a or get licensed under 1.1 and sign a contract basically giving them all properties and products you produced and/or released under the old license.
If you sign and give them the rights to your property, then you gave away all your work of your own free will and WotC owes you nothing.
If you close shop and cease all production and publication under 1.0a, then WotC can simply rerelease and publish that material as if it were theirs, keep you from publishing it legally, and there is nothing that can be done about it.
Between point 9 of OGL 1.0a and the wording of what was released of version 1.1, these in affect create an all encompassing loop by which WotC can technically take ownership of EVERYTHING produced under the OGL since the year 2000 while only allowing those they want into OGL 1.1, which could be NOBODY, thus monopolizing an extremely large majority of all ttrpg marketed products since 2000.
I could be wrong, but I doubt it... I am sure this is what they will argue with anything they think they can take and make a profit with.