[4e] D&D 4th Edition Game System License FAQ

[Jim Davies]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080502

D&D 4th Edition Game System License FAQ

There has been a lot of speculation around the details of the new
GSL, and I feel like there is need for some clarification. Our
intention is to encourage publishers to design for 4th Edition, not to
jeopardize independent third-party games published under the OGL. With
that in mind, publishers are going to be able to decide -- on a
product line by product line basis -- which platform they will use for
developing their products. If a publisher has an existing product
under the OGL, we would love for them to update it to the GSL;
however, that is not a requirement.
--Scott Rouse, Senior Brand Manager
Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License FAQ

Q. Will there be a fee to participate? Do we still have to pay
$5,000?
A. The Game System Licenses are royalty-free licenses and there is
no developer’s kit fee associated with them.

Q. Can anyone participate?
A. Yes. Interested third party publishers will be required to
submit a registration card, agreeing to the terms of use. This
registration card will be part of the materials available to
publishers on our website beginning June 6, 2008.

Q. When can we start publishing GSL products?
A. The effective start date for sales of D&D 4E GSL publications
is set for October 1, 2008. The timing for the d20 GSL has not yet
been determined.

Q. Is the new license finished yet? Can you provide a firm
timeline?
A. The D&D 4e GSL will be released when we launch Dungeons &
Dragons 4th Edition on June 6, 2008.

Q. What are the specific details of the license?
A. The specific details will be available to the public upon the
release of the licenses.

Q. How will the GSL interact with the OGL?
A. The two GSLs are new licenses, separate from the OGL. They are
designed for companies that wish to publish 4th edition compatible
products.

Q. Can companies still produce 3.x products under the OGL?
A. Yes, but we anticipate that interest in the 4e GSLs will be
greater.

Q. Can publishers release new products under both the OGL and 4E
GSL?
A. No. Each new product will be either OGL or 4E GSL. If a new
product is published under the 4e GSL, it cannot also be published as
3.x product under the OGL; and vice versa.

Q. I have multiple product lines. If I update one product line to
4th Edition, do they all have to be updated?
A. No. Publishers are able to choose on a product line by product
line basis which license will work best.

Q. Will there be a different license for other lines, such as d20
Modern?
A. The d20 GSL will allow for other genres of roleplaying games.

Q. Why are there two different licenses?
A. The D&D 4e GSL is specific to the Dungeons & Dragons brand. The
d20 GSL allows for non-fantasy genres. Both licenses tie to the 4th
edition rule set.

Q. Do I have to give up my right to publish 3.5 OGL products in
order to publish 4e compatible products?
A. No. Publishers are free to print product lines under either the
OGL or 4E GSL. We would love to see our industry colleagues convert
their entire product offerings to 4E, as we are doing, but we do not
expect or require entire companies to convert to the new edition.

Q. Can publishers update their previous publications from older
editions to the D&D 4th Edition rules?
A. Yes. Publishers participating in the Dungeons & Dragons 4th
Edition GSL will be allowed, and encouraged, to convert their
publications from earlier editions to the 4th Edition rules.

--
Jim or Sarah Davies, but probably Jim

D&D and Star Fleet Battles stuff on http://www.axsm89.dsl.pipex.com
becaue pipex's technical support is crap and so http://www.aaargh.org doesn't work.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

[Marcel Beaudoin]

ENWorld had a couple exclusive questions:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=225231&page=1&pp=50

Q. Does the so-called "poison pill" non-compete clause apply to ALL OGL,
or only D&D-based fantasy? (i.e. what if it's based on d20 Modern, d20
Future, or a non-d20 source?)

A. It’s not a “poison pill.” It’s a conversion clause. The D&D 4E GSL
applies to fantasy-based products. The d20 GSL, which will come out at an
undetermined point in the near future, will be for non-fantasy genres
such as Modern, Future, etc. Publishers will be able to decide on a
product line by product line basis which license will work best for them.

Q. Does the GSL contain provisions to prevent a secondary, sister or
subsidiary company being created in order to distribute products under
the OGL?

A. There are no restrictions prohibiting the formation of partnerships or
subsidiaries, however companies will be bound by the product line
declaration under the Game System License.

Q. How much of WotC's IP is made available via the GSL? Creatures such as
beholders and illithids were not available under the old licensing
structure. Will they be available under the new structure?

A. All of those details will be released when the license becomes
available on June 6.

Q. What products would WotC like to see come out of the third party
publishers that they are not currently interested in producing
themselves?

A. The easy answer is we want to see quality products that support 4th
Edition D&D. I’m guessing you want specific examples, right? The GSL is
designed for publishers to make Adventures, “Fluff,” Campaign settings,
Alternate Classes, Races, Monsters, Paragon Paths, Epic Destinies, and
other creative supplemental products.

Q. What are WotC’s main goals regarding the GSL? Do you believe that
third-party products will drive sales of the D&D core rulebooks?

A. The goals with the GSL include supporting our product line, growing
the industry, and supplying consumers with a rich offering of RPG
products meant to be used with the 4th Edition of D&D . And, of course,
we want to drive sales of the D&D core rulebooks.