Dungeons and Dragons Creative Commons License
Much has happened over the past few weeks in the world of Dungeons and Dragons TTRPG. First came a leak regarding an upcoming change to D&D’s Open Gaming License that would place specific restraints on content creators and require them to disclose earnings made from D&D content. As a result, fans and content creators backlashed. Paizo led a crusade to launch a new system-neutral open RPG license. And then yesterday Wizards of the Cost announced that D&D will move to Creative Commons license.
As of January 27, 2023, D&D is now licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. This is a big reversal from the company’s original positioning and a big gesture to fans and creators. You can now download a 403 page PDF of the D&D game system at this link on the dndbeyond website. Executive producer Kyle Brink posted the following this week on dndbeyond:
OGL 1.0a & Creative Commons
When you give us playtest feedback, we take it seriously. Already more than 15,000 of you have filled out the survey. Here’s what you said:
- 88% do not want to publish TTRPG content under OGL 1.2.
- 90% would have to change some aspect of their business to accommodate OGL 1.2.
- 89% are dissatisfied with deauthorizing OGL 1.0a.
- 86% are dissatisfied with the draft VTT policy.
- 62% are satisfied with including Systems Reference Document (SRD) content in Creative Commons, and the majority of those who were dissatisfied asked for more SRD content in Creative Commons.
These live survey results are clear. You want OGL 1.0a. You want irrevocability. You like Creative Commons.
The feedback is in such high volume and its direction is so plain that we’re acting now.
- We are leaving OGL 1.0a in place, as is. Untouched.
- We are also making the entire SRD 5.1 available under a Creative Commons license.
- You choose which you prefer to use.
Read more at dndbeyond.
