Just got a mail from DMsG telling me they are pulling all extensions for sale out

[Remedeez]

I don't write extensions, just mods, but I use DOZENS of exts from DMsGuild.
This is maddening, saddening, disheartening, to say the least!
Because of their exclusivity agreements, doesnt this also mean once DMsGuild cancels all the extensions, that they are no longer allowed to be posted elsewhere, like here on the forums for those who might choose to make them free after this debacle?
Anyway, I'm trying to get folks on the Twitter sphere aware and talking about this issue. Sadly, lots of DMsGuild authors aren't involved much with the FG community, but I'm hoping if we all keep this topic in the mind's eye of the community, hopefully it doesn't just get brushed aside and forgotten about.

I have so much more I want to say. I'm angry and sad and riled up about this y'all!
https://twitter.com/Remedeezy/status...884000770?s=19

[wmljohn]

I had just added this ext to my wish list to come back and purchase it later. Sooo pissed about it right now. The extension looked awesome.

[SilentRuin]

I don't write extensions, just mods, but I use DOZENS of exts from DMsGuild.
This is maddening, saddening, disheartening, to say the least!
Because of their exclusivity agreements, doesnt this also mean once DMsGuild cancels all the extensions, that they are no longer allowed to be posted elsewhere, like here on the forums for those who might choose to make them free after this debacle?
Anyway, I'm trying to get folks on the Twitter sphere aware and talking about this issue. Sadly, lots of DMsGuild authors aren't involved much with the FG community, but I'm hoping if we all keep this topic in the mind's eye of the community, hopefully it doesn't just get brushed aside and forgotten about.

I have so much more I want to say. I'm angry and sad and riled up about this y'all!
https://twitter.com/Remedeezy/status...884000770?s=19

There is no way they can prevent anyone from posting them for free IMHO. WOTC does not own FG.

For sure the one free one I maintain for the community will continue to be maintained. And I'm sure something will be figured out for the current paid extensions in DMsG. May take a bit of time - but it will happen I'm sure. Also, IMHO.

[Remedeez]

There is no way they can prevent anyone from posting them for free IMHO. WOTC does not own FG.

For sure the one free one I maintain for the community will continue to be maintained. And I'm sure something will be figured out for the current paid extensions in DMsG. May take a bit of time - but it will happen I'm sure. Also, IMHO.

I'm talking about extensions that get pulled from DMsGuild. Their policy is that once you publish something on DMsGuild, it can NEVER be published anywhere else.

[mattekure]

There is no way they can prevent anyone from posting them for free IMHO. WOTC does not own FG.

For sure the one free one I maintain for the community will continue to be maintained. And I'm sure something will be figured out for the current paid extensions in DMsG. May take a bit of time - but it will happen I'm sure. Also, IMHO.

Please respond to their email and see what they say about releasing products they are banning for free elsewhere. I'd like to know their official stance on it as I have a bunch of extensions there as well. But I have not gotten an email yet.

[celestian]

Really would like to see the extension manager that was discussed in the past implemented in FGU proper. Add a marketplace for such things and call it done and we can stop having to look at forum posts for extension updates as well.

There is no way they can prevent anyone from posting them for free IMHO. WOTC does not own FG.

For sure the one free one I maintain for the community will continue to be maintained. And I'm sure something will be figured out for the current paid extensions in DMsG. May take a bit of time - but it will happen I'm sure. Also, IMHO.

My understanding was they "owned" that content once you posted there and you couldn't post it anywhere else?

[SilentRuin]

Please respond to their email and see what they say about releasing products they are banning for free elsewhere. I'd like to know their official stance on it as I have a bunch of extensions there as well. But I have not gotten an email yet.

I've asked.

[Remedeez]

Really would like to see the extension manager that was discussed in the past implemented in FGU proper. Add a marketplace for such things and call it done and we can stop having to look at forum posts for extension updates as well.



My understanding was they "owned" that content once you posted there and you couldn't post it anywhere else?

This is pretty much correct. WHENEVER a person uploads a product to the DMsGuild, they must click "I agree" to the Community Content Agreement, which spells out DMsGuild's exclusivity policy on the product that person uploads.

Screenshot attached for clarity:
DMSGUILDCCA.jpg

[SilentRuin]

This is pretty much correct. WHENEVER a person uploads a product to the DMsGuild, they must click "I agree" to the Community Content Agreement, which spells out DMsGuild's exclusivity policy on the product that person uploads.

Screenshot attached for clarity:
DMSGUILDCCA.jpg

If that holds legally for them refusing to sell that product - I'd be expecting them to be in some legal trouble. Not really worried about it. They'll clarify for sure.

[LordEntrails]

I'm actually not surprised. I know everyone was trying to play by the rules, but selling extensions was certainly not something the DMsG was ever set up for. There were a lot of licensing issues the CCA just didn't address with software code. But, SmiteWorks and WotC were getting commissions on it so I thought they would have approached this is a different way.

Because of their exclusivity agreements, doesnt this also mean once DMsGuild cancels all the extensions, that they are no longer allowed to be posted elsewhere, like here on the forums for those who might choose to make them free after this debacle?

IANAL, but I don't think such a ruling would be enforceable legally. Of course, who is going to sue WotC so that they can sell their FG extensions elsewhere?

Why I believe this is because their are basically rulings everywhere that state even a contract can not prevent people from making a living (i.e. why non-competes are not enforceable and that gentlemen's agreements not to hire from other companies have actually resulted in lawsuits that were one by the employees.) Since WotC doesn't have IP rights to the extensions, I don't see how they can claim you can't distribute elsewhere.

Now, SmiteWorks does have claim to the IP of the extensions (actually, the xml/LUA formatting) but they allow folks to distribute extensions here on the forums. They also allow Patreon and other monetarization of extensions with prior permission from them. I assume Doug is now aware of this issue. Give him some time to work through it on the backend before helping to come up with a solution moving forward.