ELI5: How do you play Dungeons & Dragons?

I vaguely remember something about them trying to revoke some kind of licensing that let people use their intellectual property, but they ended up settling for rewording the licensing because the backlash from the customers was significant. Ie. Boycotting.

Or something along those lines. Business fucks around, business finds out. They'll try again in the future, but there are plenty of other table top games people can roll dice to now.