OGL 1.0a Guide

OGL 1.0a vs. ORC

Two different licenses that solve a similar problem in a similar way — but they are not interchangeable, and this site's content is OGL 1.0a only.

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The short version

Both the OGL and the ORC license rules mechanics while excluding trademarks and non-rules creative content (Product Identity under the OGL, "Reserved Material" under ORC — the same underlying concept, different names). They are, however, legally separate license texts with separate terms, and content under one cannot be converted into the other.

Evidence

Paizo's own licensing page states this directly: "OGL content cannot be converted into ORC material, and vice versa." See Paizo Licenses (checked 2026-08-26).

Where this site stands

This site's PF1e compendium content is published under OGL 1.0a — every content type's license is locked to it, not chosen per-record. This guide is written for that license specifically, not as general multi-license guidance. If you're working with ORC-licensed material, its terms are genuinely different and this guide doesn't cover them.

Common mistake: treating OGL and ORC as interchangeable because they look similar in structure. They aren't — don't cite one license's terms while actually working under the other.

This is a guide, not legal advice. It's a drafting aid and checklist, not a certified or guaranteed-compliant legal review. Rules and policies (including Paizo's own licensing pages) can change — check the reviewed date below and the primary sources it links to. For anything beyond routine attribution, consult a qualified attorney.
Reviewed by Eco, 2026-08-26. Source: paizo.com/licenses, checked 2026-08-26.