Dungeons and Dragonsput out a formal statement pertaining to the future of the Open Game License and homebrew inOne D&D. The statement clarifies some details on how homebrew will work inOne D&Dwhile outlining changesDungeons and Dragonsis making to the existing OGL.
Wizards of the Coast is revealing this information sooner than it anticipated, butpressure fromDungeons and Dragonsplayers demanding transparencymoved it to make a statement.Dungeons and Dragonsclarified that the Open Game License and Systems Reference Document–the legal stuff that allows players to create and sell third-party content–will be coming toOne D&D, albeit with some changes.
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The OGL 1.1, asDungeons and Dragonsis calling it, will apply only to printed media or static electronic files–videos, video games, andother types ofDungeons and Dragonsmediaare covered through the Fan Content Policy or custom agreements. This is to safeguardDungeons and Dragons’intellectual property from being exploited by large businesses or to prevent third parties from mintingD&DNFTs. This part of the OGL is largely unchanged from the5th Editionversion.
However, the OGL 1.1 is changing for commercial content creators. If playersseek to sellDungeons and Dragonsmaterial forOne D&D, they will need to inform Wizards of the Coast of what their products are and report OGL-related revenue annually. Creators will also need to include a Creator Product badge on their work and will need to pay royalties if they make more than $750,000 selling products using the OGL.
Many players are relieved Wizards of the Coast offered someclarifications on the future of homebrew content inOne D&D. Rumors and uncertainty were evolving into panic and worst-case theorycrafting, some of which has been absolved with the recent statement. At the very least, it seemsDungeons and Dragonswill be ensuring creators can continue to make content inOne D&D.
That said, many creators have even more concerns forOne D&Dthan they did before. Some of the commercial restrictionsDungeons and Dragonsmentioned have left players angry and confused. Fans wonder what the license terms they must accept will look like, or why Wizards of the Coast wants them to report their products and earnings to them like the IRS. Players don’t know what a Creator Product badge is–or if they will have to pay to get one–and fearDungeons and Dragonswill eventually lower the threshold for demanding royalties in the future.Dungeons and Dragonsmay have assuaged some fears in its statement, but commercial content creators will need more clarification in the future if they areto acceptOne D&Das their new system of choice.
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