Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

DarkBASIC Discussion / Copyright Issues

Author
Message
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 17:37
Link
I have started work on two projects (both suspended for now) that both may have some copyright issues.
The games in question are The Godfather, and Hitman: Theory & Execution.
Both are obviously using copyrighted ideas, but since I have made EVERYTHING for the games myself am I still in breach of copyright?
I'm not expecting these games to go commercial but it would be nice to know anyway.

PS If you own a copy of Hitman: Blood Money, take a look at the user manual and you'll see where I got the inspiration for Hitman: Theory & Execution.

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Insert Name Here
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Mar 2007
Location: Worcester, England
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 18:40
Link
You can't copyright characters, but I think images and writings about characters is copyright. I odn't know if concpts are the same, but Hitman and The Godfather are trademarks I think, so I wouldn't. Wait until someone with some understanding comes along though.

I never tell the truth.
That ain't a paradox.
I always tell lies is though.
Back to top
Profile PM
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 19:36
Link
The thing I'm worried about is if by posting my game on here, am I breaking copyright laws?
Is my banner breaking copyright laws?

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Xsnip3rX
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Feb 2007
Location: Washington State
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 19:41
Link
well, you may want to change the hitman logo.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 19:42
Link
Quote: "well, you may want to change the hitman logo."

awww, I spent ages on that.

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Xsnip3rX
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Feb 2007
Location: Washington State
Posted: 24th Jul 2007 19:46
Link
sorry m8, it's the only thing that i can see that'd make it a nono

Back to top
Profile PM Email
TDK
Retired Moderator
23
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posted: 25th Jul 2007 04:24
Link
Quote: "it's the only thing that i can see that'd make it a nono"


Even so, as long as we're not making any commercial profit, I can't see them being interested in anything we do.

If I were to make my own version of the Godfather or Hitman and give it away, it would have to be a pretty amazing version for them to get involved.

If they did, it would probably be on the basis that their customers are confusing my game for theirs and they are losing business. Some chance of that!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning copyright theft. I just think that these companies are unlikely to be interested in us hobbyist coders. How many of us even finish the games we start??

If they were that bothered, they might contact you to ask that you stop using their logo, character or whatever. Lets face it, it would cost them a whole lot more to sue us than they would ever hope to get back.

It would be a different story if it was a company involved though - where they could sue for substantial damages...

TDK_Man

* TDK's Game Programming Forums - Open To All - DB & Team Request Boards *

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Insert Name Here
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Mar 2007
Location: Worcester, England
Posted: 25th Jul 2007 11:09
Link
TDK says it all. Though I have to say, he sounds like my friend josh.
(Don't worry, we can use it, who's gonna know or care?)

I never tell the truth.
That ain't a paradox.
I always tell lies is though.
Back to top
Profile PM
tatts
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Jan 2006
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posted: 25th Jul 2007 23:44
Link
Where im from that is bottom line "plagiarism". Why not try and come up with your own idea's. I mean the game can follow the same type of story line but don't use the same names and all.

an example Grand theft auto and Saints row
two of the same game. really not much different from each other at all "But the name".

here's some ideas-- assassin, butcher, contract killer, executioner, gunman, hatchet man, hired gun*, killer, murderer, sniper, trigger man

WindowsXP/SP2, Pentium 4 2.66 GHz, 1GB DDR Ram, Geforce 6600 256MB
Back to top
Profile PM
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 26th Jul 2007 10:59 Edited at: 26th Jul 2007 11:02
Link
The thing is I can only draw well by copying stuff lol!
I don't want to change the Hitman game as it's based on the user manual for Blood Money.
The Godfather could be changed quite easily, I might even decide to if I really like the game, its a largely text based strategy game so all I'd have to change are the names.

The reason why I'm copying the game and film (definitely not copying the Godfather game) is because I get carried away when designing games, here I have a ready made "world" so I'll stick to the restrictions and wont be tempted to try and make "everything".

Nice to get everyone's opinions anyway.

@TDK
I was worried that my work might show up on a search engine or something and people would think it was a genuine Hitman Game (hah! I'd be lucky).

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
heartbone
23
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Nov 2002
Location:
Posted: 26th Jul 2007 21:14
Link
To respect any copyrights the derivative work should not directly reference the unique titles and names in the original.

e.g. SupraMan vs. SuperMan.

I'm unique, just like everybody else.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Scraggle
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 26th Jul 2007 22:34
Link
As TDK said; it is highly unlikely that any company will be interested in your work and if they are, the only likely outcome would be that you would be asked to stop.

Just take a look at my game Alchemists Apprentice and compare it with Popcap's Alchemy. I can't deny the fact that my game is heavily based on theirs but it has been available online for years now and I haven't heard anything from them, nor do I expect to.

I would actually consider it a huge honour to receive a 'Cease & Desist" letter from a major company because they considered my game to be a risk to their company.
I suggest you continue with your game and hope that a company considers you to be a big enough threat that they send you a C&D. Then you can stand up and say "I am a great games creator!"



Back to top
Profile PM Email
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 26th Jul 2007 23:31
Link
Quote: "I would actually consider it a huge honour to receive a 'Cease & Desist" letter from a major company because they considered my game to be a risk to their company.
I suggest you continue with your game and hope that a company considers you to be a big enough threat that they send you a C&D. Then you can stand up and say "I am a great games creator!""

That's a good way of thinking about it

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dr Schnitzengruber
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Jul 2007
Location: C:/Projects/failed/ schnitzengruber
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 05:42
Link
Why don't you just change the game up a little, so nobody would think it is based on another game( or that your a plagiarist)?

TRY changing the charcters names and looks
AND
THE games idea( by a little)

From the office of... Dr. Schnitzengruber
Back to top
Profile PM
GatorHex
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 06:08 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 06:11
Link
Hitman is likely a trademark and you will be breaking trademark passing off laws if averge joe could confuse your product with theirs.

Copyright protects work from being copied/used without the makers permission. Copyright doesn't protect unique ideas, its a Patent which does that.

p.s. to protect myself legaly I gota say im not a lawyer and you should not rely on my advice to to be accurate or true

DinoHunter (still no nVidia compo voucher!), CPU/GPU Benchmark, DarkFish Encryption DLL, War MMOG (WIP), 3D Model Viewer
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Libervurto
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 13:57
Link
I think I'll just say "this is not an IO production and is an unofficial tribute to the Hitman series"
that ought to do it.

I am king of the noobs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2026-07-06 03:59:14
Your offset time is: 2026-07-06 03:59:14