5e.tools source code removed from github after DCMA from Wizards

[dozens]

https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2024/08/2024-08-07-wizards-of-the-coast.md

[Spalls Hurgenson]

Post by dozens
https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2024/08/2024-08-07-wizards-of-the-coast.md

I'm actually surprised it took so long, because it contained a lot of
D&D source material, far above and beyond what the d20 SRD license
seemed to allow, including full text of sourcebooks and adventures.
It should be no surprise that they're bringing the hammer down, even
if Hasbro/WOTC is only doing this NOW (after long turning a blind eye
to 5eTool) because Hasbro is now intent on leveraging the game into a
'service'. Certainly 5eTool's little boilerplate "this reference is
only to be used for products you already own" was /never/ a legitimate
cover for what they were doing, which was essentially pirating WOTC
material.

The TL;DR is that 5eTools did this to themselves. I'm usually loathe
to side with corporations (or Hasbro specifically) but in this case,
they are in the right. Had 5eTools restricted themselves to just the
mechanics, it might have been different but that's not what they were
doing.

[kyonshi]

Post by Spalls Hurgenson

Post by dozens
https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2024/08/2024-08-07-wizards-

of-the-coast.md

Post by Spalls Hurgenson
I'm actually surprised it took so long, because it contained a lot of
D&D source material, far above and beyond what the d20 SRD license
seemed to allow, including full text of sourcebooks and adventures. It
should be no surprise that they're bringing the hammer down, even if
Hasbro/WOTC is only doing this NOW (after long turning a blind eye to
5eTool) because Hasbro is now intent on leveraging the game into a
'service'. Certainly 5eTool's little boilerplate "this reference is only
to be used for products you already own" was /never/ a legitimate cover
for what they were doing, which was essentially pirating WOTC material.
The TL;DR is that 5eTools did this to themselves. I'm usually loathe to
side with corporations (or Hasbro specifically) but in this case, they
are in the right. Had 5eTools restricted themselves to just the
mechanics, it might have been different but that's not what they were
doing.

quite so. it's plain copyright infringement.
I think people got a bit complacent with the rather permissive rules WotC
had regarding 5e material. Still, this one was going a bit too far by
directly copying stuff.

[kyonshi]

Post by dozens
https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2024/08/2024-08-07-wizards-

of-the-coast.md

the main websites this DMCA request references are still online from what
I can see, so I guess github was more careful than whoever hosts those
pages.
In any case copying all kinds of stuff directly from the 5e books and
allowing people access to it feels like it's inviting trouble to me.
A short check of the content on that page showed a few things to me that
are supposedly product identity, and the legal part of the website is
rather flimsy with

"Disclaimer

5etools is intended as an easily-accessible digital reference for products
you already own. Please ensure you only access content in accordance with
your local laws."

[Ubiquitous]

Post by dozens
https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2024/08/2024-08-07-wizards-of-the-coast.md

Wow, I was not aware of any 5e software than D&D Beyond!
I figured no one would have bothered.

--
Let's go Brandon!