The creators of Pathfinder have released their own version of D&D's controversial OGL—and it could have a huge impact on all tabletop RPGs

pcgamer.com:

 Pathfinder's answer to the Open Gaming License, dubbed the Open RPG Creative License or ORC License, has been completed and released for public use. Created in direct response to Wizards of the Coast's pretty nefarious attempts to clamp down on the use of its Open Gaming License to its own profit, the ORC license is designed to be «a system-agnostic, perpetual, and irrevocable open gaming license» that allows any game to create a safe environment for collaboration.  

Even though WOTC u-turned on its OGL plans, the damage was already done. Any company existing as part of the wider D&D ecosystem—whether producing its own games using elements of D&D's rules, or D&D-compatible adventures, across any edition of the game past and present—was forced to take stock. Suddenly basing your business' future on trust in WOTC's ongoing intentions seemed foolhardy, and many companies began work to break their links with the OGL completely—for the most part by revising or rewriting their products to no longer be beholden to it. 

Into that chaos, Pathfinder publisher Paizo launched development of its high profile ORC License, backed by a huge «alliance» of other tabletop companies who pledged to use it. It's a direct rival to OGL, intended to give the industry a new, safe license to rally around. So now that it's finally here, how does it actually work—and what impact can we expect it to have?

Rather than being tied to a specific system, the ORC License is intended to work for any RPG. Once a publisher releases their game under the license, its system and mechanics are then covered, allowing other creators to use those elements in their own work without fear of any legal issues. It also explicitly works in perpetuity—in other words, once