Multiple D&D fans take to social media to claim that Wizards of the Coast lied about several details in its response to the recent OGL controversy.
Several members of the Dungeons & Dragons community accused developer Wizards of the Coast (WotC) of lying in its response to the ongoing Open Gaming License (OGL) controversy.
Following WotC’s response to fan backlash over its planned OGL update, several third-party DnD content creators and players took to social media with claims the company repeatedly lied in the post. The most common accusation centered around WotC’s contention that the leaked DnD OGL 1.1 was only a draft. Others took issue with its claim that it had not intended to manufacture and sell products by third-party creators, highlighting sections of the updated OGL that some publishers received.
Numerous responders posted screenshots or comments from content creators in the community who had received a contract along with the new OGL, something fans argued would not come with a draft. Twitter user Carmen Torres (@quintessa_74) stated that no draft would be sent out with a contract or without wording that clearly marked it as such, as companies would know it could lead to problems if leaked. Another Twitter user, Lou Anders (@LouAnders), found it illogical that WotC could both mistakingly send out a draft and fail to have it fully vetted by a lawyer so they understood the implications of the language used.
Others pointed out claims that Kickstarter negotiated down the percentage of royalties charged by those using its site from 25% to 20%, which they say would not be necessary with only a draft of the OGL. Some noted that multiple third-party DnD content creators had already reported to the community that the updated OGL had been sent to them along with a contract to sign, which they said further proved that the draft had been intended as the final version.
DnD Fans Fear What the OGL Could Do to Creators
One of the most common fears expressed by fans in the new OGL had been the potential for Wizards of the Coast to start producing and selling products created by third-party DnD companies. A letter issued as part of the #OpenDnD campaign highlighted this possibility: “It chokes the vibrant community that has flourished under the original license. No matter the creator, it locks everyone into a new contract that restricts their work, makes it mandatory to report their projects and revenues to Wizards of the Coast, and gives WotC the legal right to reproduce and resell creators’ content without permission or compensation.”
Some users pointed out language within the leaked DnD OGL 1.1 that they said seemed to open these doors, contrary to what Wizards of the Coast claimed in its most recent response. DnD Shorts (@DnD_Shorts), a popular content creator for the game, shared a screenshot reportedly from the OGL that would give Wizards of the Coast this right. “WotC claim they cannot sell or share creators material without their permission,” they said in the post. “What they don’t mention is they aimed to force creators to give them that permission in OGL 1.1.”
At the time of writing, Wizards of the Coast has not commented on these allegations.
Source: Twitter
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