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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYes. On January 27, 2023, Wizards of the Coast said it would leave the original Open Game License, OGL 1.0a, “in place, as is. Untouched.” It also made the full Dungeons & Dragons System Reference Document 5.1 (SRD 5.1) available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC-BY-4.0). For creators using material in that SRD, the result was a choice between two licenses—not a new license replacing the original, and not permission to use every part of D&D.
What Wizards announced
In a January 27, 2023 statement, Dungeons & Dragons executive producer Kyle Brink announced two decisions: OGL 1.0a would remain unchanged, and the entire SRD 5.1 would also be released under CC-BY-4.0. The proposed OGL 1.2 was not adopted, and Wizards closed the survey on that proposal. Wizards’ announcement reported that more than 15,000 people had responded to its survey.
Wizards reported that 89% of survey respondents were dissatisfied with deauthorizing OGL 1.0a, 88% did not want to publish tabletop role-playing content under OGL 1.2, and 90% said they would have to change some aspect of their business to accommodate it. These were results from Wizards’ survey, as reported by the company; they should not be read as an independent, representative poll of all players or publishers.
How the dispute reached that decision
On January 13, 2023, Wizards published an update describing its goals for revising the OGL. It said it wanted to address uses it characterized as hateful or discriminatory, web3, blockchain and NFT uses, and to focus the license on individual creators and the community rather than major corporations. The update is available in Wizards’ January 13 OGL post.
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The proposed changes met strong resistance from parts of the tabletop role-playing community. Contemporary reporting described organized boycotts and social-media campaigns, greater interest in competing games, and support for Paizo’s planned Open RPG Creative License. That coverage documents the backlash and the timing of the reversal, but does not establish a precise financial loss or prove that any one action alone caused Wizards’ decision. GeekWire’s January 27 report covered the response.
What creators can use today
Wizards’ current SRD page says SRD 5.1 is available under both OGL 1.0a and CC-BY-4.0. A creator using eligible SRD 5.1 material can choose either license and must meet the requirements of the one selected. Wizards says CC-BY-4.0 permits commercial use and adaptations with attribution; OGL 1.0a has its own notice, attribution and identification provisions. The licenses are distinct, so compare their actual terms rather than assuming they impose identical obligations. The official SRD 5.1 and OGL document contains the OGL text.
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Wizards says that once a document is published under CC-BY-4.0, it remains available under those terms. That statement describes Wizards’ published licensing position; it is not an independent legal opinion.
What the SRD license does not cover
An SRD is a defined collection of rules and related material, not the whole D&D brand or every element appearing in its books. The licensing decision does not give blanket permission to use D&D characters, settings, logos, or other material that is not included in the SRD. Wizards says streams, fan art, cosplay and other fan content are addressed by its separate Fan Content Policy, rather than by the SRD, OGL or Creative Commons framework.
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Wizards now releases SRD versions after 5.1 under Creative Commons; its current SRD page presents SRD 5.2.1 separately. Do not assume that a license choice for SRD 5.1 automatically applies to a later SRD version: check the terms attached to the specific document and material you plan to use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing between OGL 1.0a and CC-BY-4.0
- Check the material: Confirm that the rules or text you want to publish are actually included in SRD 5.1. Neither license opens up material merely because it appears elsewhere in D&D.
- Choose the license for your use: For SRD 5.1, Wizards identifies both OGL 1.0a and CC-BY-4.0 as options. Review the selected license’s terms, notices and attribution requirements.
- Keep brand and fan uses separate: If your project relies on D&D branding, setting elements or fan content rather than SRD material, the SRD licenses may not be the relevant permission.
This is a general explanation of Wizards’ stated licensing options, not legal advice for a particular product. For a commercial publication or a project using material beyond the SRD, review the applicable license and seek qualified legal advice if needed.
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