Questions tagged [copyright]

Copyright is the legal right of the creator of a work to define how that work may be used and distributed.

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155 votes
11 answers
66k views

How closely can a game legally resemble another?

Most games build on other games' successes and many are downright clones. Where is the limit of imitation before legal issues come into play? Is it down to literary or graphic work like characters and ...
Fuu's user avatar
  • 2,358
8 votes
4 answers
5k views

Using modified copyrighted music in non-commercial games

Background: I'm making a retro style game for both fun, and an unofficial contest. I have bought a song, song X. However, I then found notation for song X, and all the instruments. So basically, it'...
PrettyPrincessKitty FS's user avatar
34 votes
6 answers
87k views

Can I legally remove the default Unity splash screen by removing it from the APK?

While using Unity I export an Android game as an APK. When the APK is run, the first thing that is displayed is the Unity splash screen. I worked out that I could replaced that image by opening the ...
David Dimalanta's user avatar
17 votes
4 answers
12k views

What resources can I use to determine if the name of my game violates any copyrights or trademarks?

I'm a indie/hobbyist game developer. How do I check that I'm not infringing any copyrights or trademarks when I release my game? I'm not making megabucks so it's not financially feasible to get ...
9 votes
7 answers
3k views

Can I use copyrighted sprites for a demo?

I just had a quick question and wanted everyone's opinions. I'm making a 2D demo game for a resume which I want to post online. I'm applying as a programmer position so I don't really have my own art....
user1119033's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
6k views

Will I have copyright issues making a mobile game based on an anime?

I have been wanting to create a mobile game based on some of my favorite anime. I want to know if using character images and names from those anime (even after giving full copyright credits and ...
user39111's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Unity remove logo in splash screen

Heavily related to this question, as of now, Unity's TOS has changed dramatically. And searching in the TOS, it looks like I'm allowed to remove the Unity logo in my exported game. Looking at Section ...
Bradman175's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
6k views

Is it ok to use copyrighted assets for educational purposes?

A friend and I were wanting to create a Pokemon battle simulator in our mobile development class as our final project but are worried whether or not it would be permissible under "Fair Use" for ...
init0's user avatar
  • 141
13 votes
2 answers
14k views

Are weapon names or pictures copyrighted/licensed?

Will I get a copyright strike or something if I use a picture of a weapon and the name of it? (e.g. a shop where you can buy guns, AK-47 with the pic)
Nahro's user avatar
  • 233
12 votes
1 answer
10k views

I found a game with the same name as mine! What should I do?

I published my game Eyeroller on Google Play the other day. I checked there was no game on Google Play with the same name. But today I searched for "eyeroller" on Google (Yes, I should have done it a ...
EREX's user avatar
  • 123
8 votes
2 answers
5k views

Copyright laws on famous buildings and monuments in games?

I am working on a commercial card game based on the middle east. We would like to have famous buildings and monuments in the game, such as the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai. Are there laws that would prevent ...
Abdulla's user avatar
  • 291
4 votes
2 answers
407 views

Can I use New York City in my game?

I want to make game more realistic, for that I need a city. So, I decided to take New York City, as it can be seen through Google Maps with Street View, 3d view and much more and will help me a lot to ...
Goo foo's user avatar
  • 51
3 votes
2 answers
547 views

Questions on the legal protection of games and their parts (assets, sounds, title)

we started new pirate game, and I just want to ask some questions about rights. So I am new in game dev, I guess there are a lot of answers, but I guess professionals can advise something for first ...
Oleksandr Matrosov's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Using copyrighted sprites [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How closely can a game resemble another game without legal problems I was thinking about making a pacman clone, I know there is a similar question here Using Copyrighted ...
Zertalx's user avatar
  • 31
0 votes
1 answer
286 views

Can I remake a game and freely distribute it? or at least privately keep the remake?

So I want to remake an old game and I don't know if it's possible to give my remake for free, and I'm planning to copy the assets like sounds and art, so can I give my remake to friends? If not, can I ...
costin88boss's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
427 views

Can I publish the games I learnt from tutorials and modified as per my style of game-play? [duplicate]

I am new to the world of making games and all. Well its been a few months or so. There are many tutorials that I have been watching. On the way, I made a few games that I saw and made. I am not asking ...
Sakib Zang's user avatar
26 votes
6 answers
11k views

How "fake" do invented names of a football game have to be in order to avoid copyright infringement?

I know that real player names cannot be used in videogames unless the authorization (generally very expensive) has been given by the holders of the rights (players, teams etc.) as explained here and ...
DaniPaniz's user avatar
  • 363
13 votes
10 answers
10k views

Is it illegal to use a commercial song in your game (that you intend to sell)

If I were to buy, say this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fumBcKC6RE, strip/find/get the instrumental, and use that instrumental in a game I'm making, as a theme, say for a recurring boss fight,...
Jonathan's user avatar
  • 147
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Does it require any license to use a real city landscape in a car racing game?

I'm now planning a casual car racing game that want to model some real cities sight into it. I doubt if there is copyright of the landscape or city planning of those real cities in the world. Can I ...
Makzan's user avatar
  • 193
9 votes
1 answer
5k views

Do I need licensing to use real city names in my game?

I want to allow people to go to real places (Seattle Washington, Portland, Maine, etc.) in my game. Will I need licensing to make those places and use their names?
Simon Hassick's user avatar
8 votes
6 answers
1k views

When does a game idea cross the line between homage/parody to ripoff?

I'm not sure where this question belongs, but as it pertains to the development of a game idea, I figured I'd try to post it here. Recently I've been inspired to create a game based on another game I'...
Daniel T.'s user avatar
  • 537
8 votes
3 answers
601 views

Intellectual rights to game concepts [duplicate]

For a client I might be making a small puzzle game about getting a item out of a puzzle. The concept will strongly resemble this game : http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/355972089/...
Nils Munch's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
11k views

When do I copyright a game? [closed]

I don't know how to copyright a video game idea. I don't know if I should make a game document and get that copyrighted first or make the game then copyright it. The main gist is.. I am lost.
Clifford's user avatar
  • 105
6 votes
2 answers
479 views

Guitar hero clone and music

I am an indie game developer and I am doing a game similar to guitar hero. I am using tracks composed by musicians and I contacted them to sing a licensing contract. As is my first indie project I ...
mm24's user avatar
  • 886
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can I reuse the name of an old arcade game?

I've done an indie remake of an old arcade game from 1980. Can I use its name? I thought copyright expired after 25 years but I could be wrong, hence this question.
Steve Dunn's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
331 views

How can I handle intellectual property violations in user-generated content?

I recently made a simulation game like Gamedev Tycoon where you are in charge of a game company and planning to release it on app stores soon. I have few questions about trademark and copyright laws,...
paul p's user avatar
  • 380
3 votes
1 answer
382 views

What is a legal way to use music from registered authors in a game?

I have recently asked a question about music in games like Guitar Hero. I have found that that in Europe (at least) if I do want to use a track composed by a musician member of a royalty collecting ...
mm24's user avatar
  • 886
3 votes
2 answers
774 views

How can I handle copyrighted music?

I have a curious question regarding on musics used in music rhythm game. In Guitar Hero for example, they used all different music albums in one program. Then, each album requires to ask permission to ...
David Dimalanta's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
626 views

Why can we use planes and military vehicles, but not other things?

Something sounds a little odd. It seems to me the status quo that if I wanted to put a real car or motorcycle into a video game, say a Toyota or a Ferrari, everyone would say that the default position ...
Zebrafish's user avatar
  • 189
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

Making a mobile app from a board game. Copyright infringement?

Me and a friend got hooked on a board game and soon realized that we didn't need the board game to play, instead we could play it with pen and paper with extreme ease and satisfaction. The next step ...
Claudio Coelho's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
314 views

How do I determine if I'm allowed to use an asset from the web in my game?

I need to incorporate other people's work into my game project. I must admit (with a little embarassment) that I am almost completely ignorant about copyright. I only have a vague idea of what it is, ...
Riccardo Vailati's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Can I use a no longer protected by copyrights game's sprites?

I've been looking around but couldn't really find anything conclusive. First of all, as the title says, in case a game's copyrights expire can I use its sprites for my own game and claim copyrights? ...
Wolfoso Bastardo's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
106 views

Who should be contacted to request permission, for commercial songs (and cost ballpark)

While playing to Fifa, it occurred to me that there is probably a license that EA pay to musicians to play their songs in their game. Does anyone know if there is a standard license for indie games, ...
rataplan's user avatar
  • 201
0 votes
1 answer
7k views

Legally possible to re-create/remake an old game? [duplicate]

Recently I started remaking an old game on Unity. Basically I want to remake an old RPG that was released for Playstation 1. I'm not ripping anything from the old game, all the assets are being ...
Daves Stillman's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
272 views

Copyrights and Usage of 3rd Party Intellectual Property

I develop a game for a mobile platform. I would like to implement a movie figure/creature/character/vehicle into the game. I wish to ask about Copyrights: Is it acceptable, if I implement famous ...
Bunkai.Satori's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
3k views

Can I use copyrighted images and music in my game? [duplicate]

I am working on my first ever project , and I have used some copyrighted images(images taken from some other well recognized games). Is it even possible that I edit the images a little bit and then ...
Aman Grover's user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
14k views

Can I get around a Pokemon copyright with new art and minor changes? [duplicate]

If I develop a game that is essentially pretty much Pokemon (you're a trainer, you catch "monsters" and put them to fight and level up etc), and I do the next things: I'm a trainer with a 6-"Monsters"...
Saturn's user avatar
  • 1,771