Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
This video explains why any OGL made to allow you to use copyrighted game rules it a trick. It explains the legal history of why rule sets can not be copyrighted in the U.S., and goes into things like trade mark and patent protections. Finally, it gives alternatives to WotC products you can use instead.
If you would like to support what I do here please subscribe to my subscribestar page. subscribestar.com/dark-house-rules
Link to my 2e to 5e conversion video playlist. youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Cqg8xz0nXY0Cu83K4MEE2bv3GpdFxOt
Link to the Not playing Around article. americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/publications/landslide/2014-15/march-april/not-playing-around-board-games-intellectual-property-law
Link to the U.S. Copyright Office’s website. copyright.gov
Music
Egmont Overture by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1200069
Artist: incompetech.com
Chapter Index
0:00 Greeting
0:05 Thesis
0:18 DM Problem Teaser
0:39 Channel Mission
0:59 Legal Disclaimer & My Biases
2:10 OGLs are Just Marketing
2:32 Overview of the Law
3:18 U.S. Copyright Supreme Court Case Barker Vs. Selden
4:55 The Copyright Law of 1976
6:19 U.S. Patents
9:04 Content Creators and Fare Use
10:22 Fare Use Law
10:44 Standards of Fare Use
This video explains why any OGL made to allow you to use copyrighted game rules it a trick. It explains the legal history of why rule sets can not be copyrighted in the U.S., and goes into things like trade mark and patent protections. Finally, it gives alternatives to WotC products you can use instead.
If you would like to support what I do here please subscribe to my subscribestar page. subscribestar.com/dark-house-rules
Link to my 2e to 5e conversion video playlist. youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Cqg8xz0nXY0Cu83K4MEE2bv3GpdFxOt
Link to the Not playing Around article. americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/publications/landslide/2014-15/march-april/not-playing-around-board-games-intellectual-property-law
Link to the U.S. Copyright Office’s website. copyright.gov
Music
Egmont Overture by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1200069
Artist: incompetech.com
Chapter Index
0:00 Greeting
0:05 Thesis
0:18 DM Problem Teaser
0:39 Channel Mission
0:59 Legal Disclaimer & My Biases
2:10 OGLs are Just Marketing
2:32 Overview of the Law
3:18 U.S. Copyright Supreme Court Case Barker Vs. Selden
4:55 The Copyright Law of 1976
6:19 U.S. Patents
9:04 Content Creators and Fare Use
10:22 Fare Use Law
10:44 Standards of Fare Use
