Deals with legal permission to use/represent a specific entity. It can reference the appearance of a brand or software related permissions.
-3
votes
1answer
106 views
Licensing of programs my Problem [closed]
I am to create a game / program but my problem is about licensing which are:
My IDE codeblock & Dev-C++ does NOT allow my created program to be release as closed-source.
I want to create a ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Kinect for Windows Commercial License
Kinect for Windows SDK 1.6 is available for users to download. What I enquire is: Can I publish a commercial game with it? Do I have to apply for anything?
I've searched through the Microsoft's ...
3
votes
4answers
481 views
What revenue models can I use for a non-commercial game [closed]
I don't have any budget to buy commercial licenses but the libraries I use offer non-commercial free licenses.
How far can I go in regard to monetizing my game without it being considered commercial ...
19
votes
6answers
3k views
Do you need a license for weapon models?
When creating your own model for a weapon, say the M4 carbine, and using the model in your game. Do you need a license to use it commercially?
I know that racing games like GT5 has a license for each ...
3
votes
1answer
128 views
License for a casino game with virtual money (chips)
Do I need a specific license for operating a casino game (lets say poker Hold'em or video slots) that players are supposed to play with virtual money (chips) only? I am speaking about games like Zynga ...
6
votes
3answers
485 views
Can you use well known buildings in your game?
Is it legal to reference a real city in your game and use the same architecture of well known shops and buildings?
For example, I'm sure you can't create an exact 3D model of McDonalds, put it in ...
0
votes
4answers
337 views
hidden cost while deploying game with unity3d
I just started learning unity3d. I created a small 2d game, I want to host for windows, iphone, ipad, android, windows 8, xbox and even in websites.
I created it using free unity3d editor. Now I want ...
1
vote
1answer
132 views
How free is BSD / CC-BY usage?
I looked at blendswap.com where there are models that I want to make walk along a wall in this level.
AFAIK I can take this file and sell it or did I misunderstand licensing?
2
votes
1answer
242 views
Where can I buy freely redistributable (creative commons) game assets?
I'd like to know about any 3D asset shops out there that specialize in game assets and, most importantly, license their assets under an open license like Creative Commons or similarly permissive.
We ...
5
votes
3answers
164 views
Which Open Source Licenses can address concerns for an Open Source Game Engine?
I am on a team that is looking to open source an engine we are building. It's intended as an engine for Online RPG style games. We're writing it to work on both desktops and android platforms.
I've ...
-1
votes
1answer
79 views
Farseer Physics Engine and the Ms-PL License [closed]
Am I able to produce code for a game which uses the Farseer engine and release my code under an open source license other than the Ms-PL?
My concern is with the following section from the license:
...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
UDK license (DLLBind)
I dont understand part of UDK's license about DLLBind:
does it allow to use DLLBind in UDK projects? Could I use DLLBind for commercial games without buying c++/native license?
1
vote
2answers
728 views
Car brands and models licensing
We are small team which working on car racing game but we don't know about licensing process for branded cars like Nissan, Lamborghini, Chevrolet and etc.
Do we need to buy any licence for using ...
15
votes
3answers
666 views
How to monetize and protect a engine's and its framework's copyrights and patents?
I created a game engine that handles:
Rendering levels with 2d textured curved surfaces
Collisions with curved surfaces
Animationn paths on and navigation in 2d-sapce
I have also made a framework ...
4
votes
4answers
428 views
Is an in-app purchase required to unlock game in order to bypass pirating acceptable?
I'm considering writing a mobile game and looking at distribution. The game will have a server requirement, which means I will have to pay for bandwidth, hosting, processor time, etc. Because of ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
Can I name a team with the name of their city to avoid trademark issues?
I was wondering, if you want to make a NBA game on smartphones, without the license held by EA, the first solution seems to name your teams with a different name, such as "Chicragro Brulls" (this is ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
Is it legal to develop a game using D&D rules?
For a while now I've been thinking about trying my hand at creating a game similar in spirit and execution to Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale and offshoots. I'd rather not face the full bulk of work in ...
2
votes
2answers
528 views
Legality of AngelCode's BMFont
Is it legal to use a bitmapped version of a proprietary font (such as Arial) in a commercial app?
I'm using AngelCode's BMFont to generate a bitmapped version of a few various system installed fonts ...
21
votes
10answers
2k views
How does one escape the GPL?
DISCLAIMER I don't pretend to know anything about licensing. In fact, everything I say below may be completely false!
Backstory:
Recently, I've been looking for a decent game engine, and I think ...
4
votes
4answers
367 views
Which software licenses cover my needs?
I want to license my game to protect my intellectual property, but also want to open-source, and sell it. Which licenses will allow me to do this? I'm not a legal expert, and I have no experience as ...
10
votes
4answers
469 views
Does using an licensed game engine prevent you from open sourcing a defunct work?
I'm curious as my previous company is asking us (people who developed the game) on what to do to the game since it's no longer financially viable.
My suggestion was to open source it so people can ...
4
votes
3answers
182 views
Where can I find affordable legal advice for game software related inquiries?
I am working on simulation middleware which is applicable for game engine implementations.
What I would like to do is to make it freely available for use for all non-commercial purposes, while at ...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
Can I use the ENet library in a commercial game?
I have some problems understanding ENet's license. It's not the zlib license as far as I know, but it seems like it's not GPL either. I'm not a native English speaker and I can't understand what the ...
8
votes
4answers
880 views
What is a fair price to pay for music licensing for a commercial game?
What is a fair price range for already existing (not custom-made) music if it's intended for a commercial game?
The music I have in mind is relatively unknown (independent music) and I'm already in ...
1
vote
0answers
225 views
Open Source HTML/JS game(s) with license that would allow embedding in my app?
I'm working on an educational app for kids. At the end of the sign-up process, the kids must wait for a confirmation from their parents in order to gain access to the app.
While they wait for this to ...
3
votes
6answers
420 views
Alternatives to the GPL
I made a game, and I am currently making a game engine. I want them both to be completely free and open source. What license should I choose? I was reading a bit on GPL, but that seems to be more ...
4
votes
3answers
371 views
Cost to licence characters or ships for a game
I am producing a game pitch document for a university game design class, and I am looking for examples of licencing cost for using characters or ships from other IP holders in a game. For example:
...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Lighting-Reflectance Models & Licensing Issues
Generally, or specifically, is there any licensing issue with using any of the well known lighting/reflectance models (i.e. the BRDFs or other distribution or approximation functions):
Phong, ...
4
votes
3answers
175 views
Choice of open source license for some components, closed source for others
G'day,
I am working on a set of multiplayer games, where different games play against each other (e.g. you play a Tetris clone, I play an Asteroids clone, but we are both competing against each ...
3
votes
2answers
184 views
What is the best way to handle “Fangame” licensing?
( I understand that this is a subjective question. My goal is obtaining some personal feedback from other game designers )
I wish to develop a digital version of an existing board game.
What would be ...
9
votes
2answers
383 views
Does using Creative Common data in a GPL game mean the code must be CC-BY-SA?
Let's assume we have a game where the code is GPL-licensed, and all the resources (like music, textures, etc.) are licensed under the CC-BY-SA license.
Now, the first issue would be that the GPL is ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
Am I allowed to make my Minecraft clone open source?
I'm developing in my spare time a game like Minecraft. In fact, it isn't "like Minecraft", because I'm trying to make it a close as possible copy of it (meant as exercise for myself at the age of 16 ...
0
votes
2answers
244 views
Licence to use RPG systems like Pathfinder
I am sketching out my 2012 programming project, and Im planning to make a classic fantasy RPG game.
The world design, plots, characters and all that I can make, but being a avid tabletop role-player, ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
How does one buy the rights for a game?
Let's take some old popular at a time but abandoned game: WorldRacing/HiOctane/Constructor/any other. Say I with a team want to revitalize said game and bring it to year 2011 without major changes and ...
1
vote
3answers
232 views
Term for a game that used to cost money but is now a public license
What is the term for that?
A game that used to cost money but is so old that it is now available for free (though not always open-sourced).
Also, does anyone know where I can find a list of such ...
3
votes
2answers
178 views
'Unblock' / 'Yellow Out' game questions
I would very much like to build a game that is known as 'Unblock' or 'Yellow Out'. It is a puzzle game in which the task is to move a car out of a parking space by moving other cars in certain ...
-5
votes
2answers
807 views
What are reasons for Unity3D's owners to force rich guys buying Pro version?
Well, I have to say that Unity is a really nice thing that can save one a dozen of hours on coding (letting instantly work on gameplay). But what's the idea of forcing
(EULA) any party, which made ...
6
votes
3answers
497 views
Is it OK to release the source code for your own Xbox Live indie game?
Between not being sure how to phrase my question for Google and not being a lawyer, I thought it might be easier to ask you guys. Specifically, I want to know if it's OK to sell an Xbox Live indie ...
7
votes
4answers
14k views
Free to use resources for 2d platformer Sprites [closed]
I've looked at a couple other questions about Sprites but most seem to apply to Isometric or RPG related sprites. So I'm wondering if there is a decent place for 2D side scrolling plat-former type ...
2
votes
1answer
448 views
Understanding the Microsoft Permissive License
I want to use certain parts of the Game State Management Example in a game I'm making, but I'm not sure how to do this legally. It says in the license that I'm supposed to include a copy of the ...
0
votes
1answer
115 views
Licensing Theme Music from other games
As part of my game, I thought it would be fun to make a hidden level that pays tribute to Mario Bros (one of the earliest games I ever played). It would be themed in that way with 8-bit graphics and ...
3
votes
3answers
250 views
How to license outsourced game-content?
Which license / type of contract is normally used by independent-developer, when they outsource something like graphics / sound work for their games? Is there something like an template floating ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
Where can I find fonts which I can distribute with an open source game?
I want to be able to release my game as open source, and I need to be able to distribute font files with my game. Where can I find fonts which I can use in this way, and what font licenses should I be ...
7
votes
3answers
315 views
What happens to a license if both the publisher and the developer are bankrupt?
Is one allowed to make a similar game or even a sequel which would usually require obtaining a license? Who keeps the license in the end, i.e. who is to be asked for permission in such cases?
4
votes
3answers
387 views
What's the right way to re-use open source game assets?
This is a hypothetical question, but one I always wanted to know about. Suppose I wanted to create a game in the same fantasy style as Battle for Wesnoth. Having no arts skills myself, I could write ...
