Comments on: Open Call at Wizards

By: Matt Forbeck

Matt Forbeck — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:21:15 +0000

I wouldn’t call it a purposeful attempt on behalf of the book department to alienate established authors. It’s more like a carryover from the larger corporate culture that understands games and toys far better than independent fiction. Like you’ve I’ve signed waivers like these before, and I wouldn’t blink at doing so again—with a company, like Wizards, that I trust.

In most cases, it’s far more trouble for a company to steal something than it is to just buy it. I’ve only known one such case in the gaming industry, which involved the wrestling CCGs from Comic Images and Wizards, and it ended well for the designer.

By: Matt Forbeck

Matt Forbeck — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:21:00 +0000

By: Wolfgang Baur

Wolfgang Baur — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:51:21 +0000

Yeah, I get this sort of waiver for game material all the time. But I have a novel sitting with a book publisher in NY who doesn’t ask for this sort of waiver, or any waiver at all.

Why are they applying the standards of the game industry to a novel submission? It just seems like an attempt to drive away authors who have some experience with the regular publishing world.

By: Wolfgang Baur

Wolfgang Baur — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:51:00 +0000

Yeah, I get this sort of waiver for game material all the time. But I have a novel sitting with a book publisher in NY who doesn’t ask for this sort of waiver, or any waiver at all.

Why are they applying the standards of the game industry to a novel submission? It just seems like an attempt to drive away authors who have some experience with the regular publishing world.

By: Matt Forbeck

Matt Forbeck — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:10:46 +0000

This is a standard submission waiver that most game publishers use. I didn’t find it all that onerous. Essentially it protects Wizards from lawsuits arising from parallel development.

On the other hand, as one of their authors I’d approach my editors directly rather than taking this route.

By: Matt Forbeck

Matt Forbeck — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:10:00 +0000

This is a standard submission waiver that most game publishers use. I didn’t find it all that onerous. Essentially it protects Wizards from lawsuits arising from parallel development.

On the other hand, as one of their authors I’d approach my editors directly rather than taking this route.

By: Wolfgang Baur

Wolfgang Baur — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:58:46 +0000

Wow, I just read the standard submission waiver, and its brutally one-sided. It’s a license for WotC to do as they please with anything anyone submits.

Thanks but no thanks.

By: Wolfgang Baur

Wolfgang Baur — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:58:00 +0000

Wow, I just read the standard submission waiver, and its brutally one-sided. It’s a license for WotC to do as they please with anything anyone submits.

Thanks but no thanks.