License alternatives for 3rd party D100 supplements

[RosenMcStern]

So, now that the MRQ logo license is dead as an "open" alternative and only exists as a negotiated, commercial license, what are the alternatives for small press who want to make something with a BRP-like system?

I can see several ones:

a) GORE (the least likely, I think)

b) D100Rules (but I can see some legal issues here)

c) OpenQuest (see Newt's comments here)

d) Make your own using the MRQ OGL - it is still open

e) BRP - the license terms are affordable in the end

[RosenMcStern]

Anyway, what good are licenses? Can't people publish what they like, so long as they don't infringe decency, copyright or trademarks? So long as you don't use Chaosium or Mongoose logos you're fine. Right?

I am not so sure. "Fair use" applies to US laws only. WotC allowed retro-clones of D&D, but it could have sued.

Basically, if you wish to do a fanzine-like thing, you can do it. But if you want something more professinally made, that sells, you better have a license of some sort.

[dragonewt]

e) BRP - the license terms are affordable in the end

How could this be viable when someone wants to release a free/open product?

[RosenMcStern]

I should have phrased it as "third party" supplements. Trif, would you change the thread title?

[dragonewt]

I should have phrased it as "third party" supplements. Trif, would you change the thread title?

I am still interested in the idea of releasing a free product using BRP.

What options are open to me?

With OpenQuest, I can blend my content with the rules and provide a self contained OGL product.

However, what options do I have with BRP? Could my free end product only provide background material with a few new spot rules, while only making reference to the BRP core rules?

[frogspawner]

What legal issues might there be for d100Rules? (I must admit to being worried by this thought myself, when Trif announced it).

Surely there is another alternative (and isn't this what d100Rules is?)...

f) Do a BRP-clone (without using Chaosium's copyrighted words, Logos, or Trademarks e.g. the name "Basic RolePlaying" or even "BRP")

[rust]

In my view it would depend somewhat on Mongoose's terms for a commercial
MRQ II license and their willingness to support third party products, for exam-
ple with a concept like the one they use for Traveller products in their Flaming
Cobra network.

If a MRQ II license turns out to be significantly more expensive than Chaosi-
um's model, and the support (e.g. distribution through Mongoose's channels)
not equivalent to the cost, it will hardly be and option, but otherwise I would
not count it out.

On the other hand, personally I would very much prefer to see all BRP mate-
rial and material that can easily be adapted to BRP "clustered around" Chao-
sium, where it is easier for the customer to find it and to keep aware of what
is there, than to have it scattered over a wider array of distribution chan-
nels, where it is much easier to miss interesting indie products.

For example, I might even miss something like Alephtar's Rome if it did not ap-
pear on Chaosium's website.

[Vile]

a) GORE (the least likely, I think)
I'm inclined to agree - GORE is really more of a 3rd party product than a 3rd party publishing kit, and it's too tied (whether perceptually or actually) to CoC.

b) D100Rules (but I can see some legal issues here)
Well, until it happens we can't really comment.

c) OpenQuest (see Newt's comments here)
As Newt says, OQ is not BRP - although the name might confuse a few people.

d) Make your own using the MRQ OGL - it is still open
Probably the easiest, safest and most practical course.

e) BRP - the license terms are affordable in the end
Affordable, yes, but a big commitment in terms of future output, so not something for the novice 3rd-party publisher. And the final license would need a lot of negotiation to weed out some of the ambiguities and potential pitfalls (of the draft that I saw, anyway).

On the whole, I don't really see the need to have a BRP OGL, anyway - I like BRP and Chaosium the way they are. Not having grown up with Mongoose in the same way, I look on their OGL SRDs in a much more mercenary way. >:->

[NickMiddleton]

f) Do a BRP-clone (without using Chaosium's copyrighted words, Logos, or Trademarks e.g. the name "Basic RolePlaying" or even "BRP")

It's a legal alternative certainly - it's also as morally contemptible now as when Stafford and Sprange first claimed they were going to do it, or when GORE was released and frankly, the more often it happens, the more contemptible it gets, not less.

I am still interested in the idea of releasing a free product using BRP.

What options are open to me?

Ask Chaosium politely, supplying them with some idea of what you plan to do. Worked for me.

With OpenQuest, I can blend my content with the rules and provide a self contained OGL product.

Yes, but you cannot reference ANY IP you do not hold an explicit license for in such a product.

However, what options do I have with BRP?

Ask Chaosium - it's their trademark and their copyright text.

Could my free end product only provide background material with a few new spot rules, while only making reference to the BRP core rules

Depends on what Chaosium let you do - ASK THEM.

No, there is no blanket statement that gives any third party open access to Chaosium's copyright text and trademark without seeking Chaosium's specific permission first. Doesn't mean you can't ask - and if you put a solid proposal to them, I'm sure they would listen. Maybe even including letting you use the BRP core text directly provided your final product correctly attributed their copyright and trademark ownership.

Bear in mind that "free" (as Uncounted Worlds is) does not mean "released to public domain". The text of the MRQ SRD (or any other SRD released under the OGL) is NOT public domain - it is not free for any one to use how they wish. It has been made available under a specific license with specific criteria as to how it can be used and attributed...

And here's the weird thing - for DECADES prior to the OGL/d20 STL RPG supplements were frequently published WITHOUT regurgitating great gobbets of the core rules over and over again, or worrying about "open licenses" and the like...

:rolleyes:

Nick

[Vile]

And here's the weird thing - for DECADES prior to the OGL/d20 STL RPG supplements were frequently published WITHOUT regurgitating great gobbets of the core rules over and over again ...

In fact, decades before the Intertubes (and even a few years after they happened) fanzines were perfectly happily publishing unlicensed materials for their favourite games without great gobbets of legalese on their front pages, and they were charging money for them! :eek: