OGL for Dummies

[bardliam]

Can someone please tell me, without legalese, exactly what published materials I may use in creating a new product for sale? For instance, is it only the core books? Anything created under the Paizo compatibility license? Somewhere in between? I understand I need to apply for a license, I have that form, but the legal jargon stymies me.

[Andrew Betts]

Sadly the legal jargon is the important part. Finding a lawyer that you could talk to would probably be quite useful.

[Chuck Wright]

Andrew is correct. It's the legalese that tells you what you can and cannot use.

[Gorbacz]

First of all, you should separate OGL and PFCL, those are two entirely different kinds of fish. Read both of them. Then, read them again.

Once you do that, note down all questions that you have and likely somebody will be able to help you out. However, keep in mind that it's all crowdsourced advice that's not coming from lawyers (even if some of Paizo forum regulars are lawyers or have legal education).

That being said, anything posted by Paizo's employees and a few established OGL specialists (Clark Peterson and Ryan Dancey spring to mind) can be taken for granted.

[Iziak]

I am not a lawyer.

--The OGL

The OGL isn't too complicated a license, although it may look it at first. Section 1 is a whole ton of definitions. Start reading at section 2, and when you come across a capitalized term, look it up in Section 1. It isn't too hard to follow compared to some licenses.

I will note that, in practice, publishers (including Paizo) tend to include designations of product identity and open game content which are different from those in the OGL itself. These designations are usually found in the front part of the book (such as the credits or table of content page) or alongside the OGL itself.

--The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License

This license allows you to A) use the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility logo in conjunction with your product, and B) to reference, by name, certain "core" Paizo Publishing products, which would normally be prohibited because the names are product identity under the OGL. This license does not restrict what open game content you can use from Paizo products.

Again, IANAL; these are my understandings based on my readings of the licenses.

[Yora]

Isn't anything that is in the SRD fair game?

[Chuck Wright]

Yora wrote:

Isn't anything that is in the SRD fair game?

Yes, with the caveat that you also have to make sure that you credit your Section 15 correctly. Using it without a properly credited Section 15 has the possibility of getting you in trouble.

I'm hesitant to tell anyone that is having problems understanding the OGL that one thing or the other is fair game because they may take that to mean they can use it however they like. Which isn't quite true. You can use it however you like if you follow the terms of the license.

[Vic Wertz]

The keys to determining what is Open Game Content (and thus republishable) and what is Product Identity (and thus off limits) are the statements of Open Game Content and Product Identity that every OGL product is required to have. In most Paizo products, you'll find them in the front, on the credits page.

Also, if you're considering publishing something under the OGL, and you don't actually understand the OGL, you should consult an intellectual properties attorney.