Editing Open Game License (section)

===5th Edition===
[[File:Dungeons & Dragons System Reference Document v5.1 (2023).pdf|thumb|right|Version 5.1 of the [[System Reference Document]], released in January 2023]]
On January 12, 2016, Wizards of the Coast released the 5th Edition SRD under v1.0a of the OGL, marking a return to the Open Gaming format.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/systems-reference-document-srd | title=System Reference Document (SRD) | access-date=19 January 2016 | archive-date=April 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427160716/http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/systems-reference-document-srd | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> This SRD was later revised and rereleased as SRD 5.1 in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2016 |title=Systems Reference Document |url=https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/systems-reference-document-srd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523081141/https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/systems-reference-document-srd |archive-date=May 23, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=Dungeons & Dragons |publisher=Wizards of the Coast}}</ref>

Content creators can alternatively utilize a different licensing option by publishing through the [[OneBookShelf#Dungeon Masters Guild|Dungeon Masters Guild]] storefront;<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lemon |first=Marshall |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Wizards of the Coast Puts Out New Dungeons and Dragons Open License With Forgotten Realms Content {{!}} The Escapist |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/165838-Wizards-of-the-Coast-Puts-Out-New-Dungeons-and-Dragons-Open-License-With-Forgotten-Realms-Content |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211035705/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/165838-Wizards-of-the-Coast-Puts-Out-New-Dungeons-and-Dragons-Open-License-With-Forgotten-Realms-Content |archive-date=February 11, 2016 |access-date=2019-11-23 |website=Escapist Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-31|title=D&D's Dungeon Masters Guild Wants Players To Monetise Fan Content|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/07/dds-dungeon-masters-guild-wants-players-to-monetize-fan-content/|access-date=2019-11-23|website=Kotaku Australia|language=en|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423144218/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/07/dds-dungeon-masters-guild-wants-players-to-monetize-fan-content/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sims|first=Chris|title=You Can Now Publish Your 'D&D' Adventures Through The DM Guild|url=https://comicsalliance.com/dungeons-dragons-dungeonmasters-guild/|access-date=2019-11-23|website=ComicsAlliance|date=January 13, 2016|language=en|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127032306/https://comicsalliance.com/dungeons-dragons-dungeonmasters-guild/|url-status=live}}</ref> this license allows individuals and third party publishers to create and sell content based on specific Wizards of the Coast [[intellectual property]] such as the [[Forgotten Realms]], [[Ravenloft]], [[Eberron]], and the [[Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings#Magic: The Gathering planes|''Magic: The Gathering'' planes]].<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=The D20 Beat: The DM's Guild is a fantastic way for D&D to resurrect old settings|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/29/the-d20-beat-the-dms-guild-is-a-fantastic-way-for-dd-to-resurrect-old-settings/|access-date=2019-11-24|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029050705/https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/29/the-d20-beat-the-dms-guild-is-a-fantastic-way-for-dd-to-resurrect-old-settings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Content and Format Questions|url=http://support.dmsguild.com/hc/en-us/articles/217029298-Content-and-Format-Questions|access-date=2019-11-24|website=DMs Guild Support Site|language=en-US|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729023231/https://support.dmsguild.com/hc/en-us/articles/217029298-Content-and-Format-Questions|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2020-01-13|title=Dungeons & Dragons basically has DLC now, and it's excellent|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/13/21064147/dungeons-dragons-dungeon-masters-guild|access-date=2020-01-16|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804123417/https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/13/21064147/dungeons-dragons-dungeon-masters-guild|url-status=live}}</ref> Content creators are allowed to set their own price, however, Wizards of the Coast and [[OneBookShelf]] take a 50% cut of the proceeds.<ref name=":1" />

==== Proposed OGL changes ====
In August 2022, [[Wizards of the Coast]] launched a public playtest of the next version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' under the ''[[One D&D]]'' initiative.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Xavier |date=2022-08-18 |title=Dungeons and Dragons brings huge changes to fifth edition rules under One D&D initiative |url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/dungeons-and-dragons-brings-huge-changes-to-fifth-edition-rules |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101211839/https://dotesports.com/general/news/dungeons-and-dragons-brings-huge-changes-to-fifth-edition-rules |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, there was reported speculation that the OGL would be discontinued for this new iteration of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' based on unconfirmed leaks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Eric |date=2022-11-14 |title=Rumor: One D&D Might Be Killing Third-Party Homebrew Content |url=https://gamerant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-one-dnd-no-ogl-rumor/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113073331/https://gamerant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-one-dnd-no-ogl-rumor/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chancey |first=Tyler |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Wizards Clarifies One D&D Third Party Support |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/wizards-clarifies-one-dd-third-party-support |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=TechRaptor |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113072017/https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/wizards-clarifies-one-dd-third-party-support |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> In response to the speculation, Wizards of the Coast stated in November 2022: "We will continue to support the thousands of creators making third-party D&D content with the release of One D&D in 2024. While it is certain our Open Game License (OGL) will continue to evolve, just as it has since its inception, we're too early in the development of One D&D to give more specifics on the OGL or System Reference Document (SRD) at this time".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Clarifies Support for Third-Party Material as New Edition Draws Near |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-open-game-license-srd-one-dnd/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113022707/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-open-game-license-srd-one-dnd/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following concerns raised by third-party ''Dungeons & Dragons'' creators on the potential changes to the OGL,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Eric |date=December 19, 202 |title=Dungeons and Dragons: 'OpenDnD' Trends on Twitter Amid Homebrew Rumor Controversy |url=https://gamerant.com/dungeons-dragons-opendnd-twitter-trend-wizards-of-the-coast-controversy/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221224310/https://gamerant.com/dungeons-dragons-opendnd-twitter-trend-wizards-of-the-coast-controversy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons fans concerned One D&D will spell disaster for custom content |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/dungeons-dragons-fans-concerned-one-dd-will-spell-disaster-for-custom-content-2014118/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Dexerto |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221210325/https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/dungeons-dragons-fans-concerned-one-dd-will-spell-disaster-for-custom-content-2014118/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=The Dungeons & Dragons Open Gaming License Isn't Going Anywhere |url=https://gizmodo.com/dnd-open-gaming-license-dungeons-dragons-wizards-coast-1849919823 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221193823/https://gizmodo.com/dnd-open-gaming-license-dungeons-dragons-wizards-coast-1849919823 |url-status=live }}</ref> in December 2022, Wizards of the Coast released additional details on the proposed OGL 1.1 which would have gone into effect in 2023.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=OGLs, SRDs, & One D&D |url=http://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1410-ogls-srds-one-d-d |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=D&D Beyond |language=en-us |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221183154/http://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1410-ogls-srds-one-d-d |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Announces Changes to OGL, Some Third-Party Creators Must Report Revenue and Potentially Pay Royalties |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-srd-royalties/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221184130/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-srd-royalties/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5" /> It would have clarified that it only applies to "printed media or static electronic files (like epubs and PDFs)" and "only covers material created for use in or as TTRPGs";<ref name=":7" /> OGL 1.1 would not cover other content such as video games or virtual tabletops (VTTs).<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Eric |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons and Dragons Releases Statement on how Homebrew Content Works for One D&D |url=https://gamerant.com/dungeons-dragons-one-dnd-homebrew-ogl-srd-statement/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221213456/https://gamerant.com/dungeons-dragons-one-dnd-homebrew-ogl-srd-statement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Content creators using OGL 1.1 would have been required "to put an official OGL badge on their products".<ref name=":5" /> Revenue related to OGL content would have been reported to Wizards of the Coast if that revenue exceeds $50,000 annually; creators who make at least $750,000 in income annually will be required to pay a royalty starting in 2024.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

Lin Codega, for ''[[Io9]]'' in January 2023, reported on the details from a leaked full copy of the OGL 1.1 including updated terms such as no longer authorizing use of the OGL1.0. Codega explained that while the original OGL granted a "perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license" it also included language around authorized versions of the license and "according to attorneys consulted for this article, the new language may indicate that Wizards of the Coast is rendering any future use of the original OGL void, and asserting that if anyone wants to continue to use Open Game Content of any kind, they will need to abide by the terms of the updated OGL, which is a far more restrictive agreement than the original OGL".<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons' New License Tightens Its Grip on Competition |url=https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634 |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111115214/https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634 |url-status=live }}</ref> The document also states that the intention of the OGL was not "to fund major competitors and it wasn't intended to allow people to make D&D apps, videos, or anything other than printed (or printable) materials for use while gaming".<ref name=":13" /> In a statement to [[EN World]], Dancey, former VP of Wizards of the Coast and the architect of OGL1.0, said, "my public opinion is that Hasbro does not have the power to deauthorize a version of the OGL. If that had been a power that we wanted to reserve for Hasbro, we would have enumerated it in the license. I am on record numerous places in email and blogs and interviews saying that the license could never be revoked".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrissey |first=Russ |author-link=Russ Morrissey |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Ryan Dancey -- Hasbro Cannot Deathorize OGL |url=https://www.enworld.org/threads/ryan-dancey-hasbro-cannot-deathorize-ogl.694196/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=[[EN World]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105190328/https://www.enworld.org/threads/ryan-dancey-hasbro-cannot-deathorize-ogl.694196/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following an apology issued by Wizards of the Coast, the company released a new draft titled OGL 1.2 for public comment on January 19. It would have put some of the ''Dungeon & Dragons'' mechanics under a [[Creative Commons license]], while other material would have been covered by OGL 1.2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2023-01-19 |title=D&D will move to a Creative Commons license, requests feedback on a new OGL |url=https://www.polygon.com/23562874/dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-2-release-download-feedback-survey |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121000023/https://www.polygon.com/23562874/dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-2-release-download-feedback-survey |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=January 19, 2023 |title=The D&D Open Game License controversy, explained |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2023/01/19/dungeons-and-dragons-open-game-license-wizards-of-the-coast-explained/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119203631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2023/01/19/dungeons-and-dragons-open-game-license-wizards-of-the-coast-explained/ |archive-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=2023-01-20 |title=D&D reveals new licensing terms amid community backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/20/23563712/dnd-wotc-dungeons-and-dragons-ogl-ccl-license-feedback |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121002326/https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/20/23563712/dnd-wotc-dungeons-and-dragons-ogl-ccl-license-feedback |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":30">{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Releases New OGL Draft, Includes Some Core Mechanics Released Under Creative Commons License |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-new-ogl-creative-commons-1-2/ |access-date=January 21, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121002324/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-new-ogl-creative-commons-1-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Unlike the leaked OGL 1.1, the proposed OGL 1.2 contained "no royalty payment, no financial reporting, no license-back, no registration, no distinction between commercial and non-commercial".<ref name=":31">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=Dungeons & Dragons' New OGL Will Be 'Irrevocable' and Bring Mechanics to Creative Commons |url=https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-creative-commons-licen-1850008294 |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121002327/https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-creative-commons-licen-1850008294 |url-status=live }}</ref> The proposed OGL 1.2 would have de-authorized the OGL1.0a;<ref name=":30" /><ref name=":31" /> it would also be "irrevocable, although there's still a severability clause should a part of the license is held to be unenforceable or invalid".<ref name=":30" /> Along with the proposed OGL 1.2, Wizards released a separate virtual tabletop (VTT) policy.<ref name=":30" /> On January 27, 2023, Wizards of the Coast announced that following feedback during the open comment for OGL1.2 they had decided to instead release the [[c:File:Dungeons & Dragons System Reference Document v5.1 (2023).pdf|System Reference Document 5.1]] (SRD 5.1) under an irrevocable Creative Commons license ([[CC BY 4.0|CC-BY-4.0]]) effective immediately and would no longer pursue deauthorizing the OGL1.0a.<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=January 27, 2023 |title=D&D won't change the OGL, handing fans and third-party publishers a massive victory |url=https://www.polygon.com/23574677/dungeons-dragons-dnd-ogl-canceled-wizards-fans-win |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127201901/https://www.polygon.com/23574677/dungeons-dragons-dnd-ogl-canceled-wizards-fans-win |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":36">{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Will Not De-Authorize Current OGL, Releases Full SRD Under Creative Commons License |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212444/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":34">{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Scraps Plans to Update Its Open Game License |url=https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-will-no-longer-deauthorize-its-open-1850041837 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127202427/https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-will-no-longer-deauthorize-its-open-1850041837 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=System Reference Document 5.1 |url=https://www.dndbeyond.com/attachments/39j2li89/SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf |website=[[D&D Beyond]] |publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] |quote=The System Reference Document 5.1 is provided to you free of charge under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (“CC-BY-4.0”). |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212445/https://www.dndbeyond.com/attachments/39j2li89/SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2025 update ====
The SRD was revised to reflect the [[One D&D|2024 revision]] to the 5th Edition ruleset. [[:File:Dungeons & Dragons System Reference Document v5.2 (2025).pdf|SRD 5.2]] was released under a Creative Commons license on April 22, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2025 |title=Coming April 22: Publish Your Own Creations Using the 2024 Core Rules |url=https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1949-coming-april-22-publish-your-own-creations-using |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=[[D&D Beyond]] |language=en-us |type=[[Press release]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oaks |first=Amanda Kay |date=April 16, 2025 |title=New D&D Errata Revise 2024 5e Rules Ahead of SRD 5.2 Update |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-dnd-5e-errata-rules-update-srd-5-2-release/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dohm-Sanchez |first=Jeffrey |date=April 23, 2025 |title=Wizards of the Coast Updates 'D&D' System Reference Document |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/59390/wizards-coast-updates-d-d-system-reference-document |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> Jess Lanzillo, VP of Franchise and Product for ''Dungeons & Dragons'', explained that the "SRD will be part of the [[Erratum|errata]] process, ensuring it is regularly updated as official clarifications and corrections are published for our Core Rulebooks. [...] Future SRDs will be published with new version numbers, allowing us to respond to how players are playing D&D and what creators are creating within the game and update the SRD with future versions".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Benjamin |date=April 16, 2025 |title=New D&D rules are being given to creators for free, reflecting 'the lessons we’ve learned and the steps we’re taking to rebuild and strengthen our relationship with our players' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/new-d-and-d-rules-are-being-given-to-creators-for-free-reflecting-the-lessons-weve-learned-and-the-steps-were-taking-to-rebuild-and-strengthen-our-relationship-with-our-players/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |language=en}}</ref>