A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

General Mech2 related Developments go here. Discussions welcome!

Moderator: Skyfaller

Forum rules
If you are writing a guide please do not post it here! Post in the Dev FAQ section please.
Locked
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

Hello to all.

I am working on a new game called "Beta VII: The Rebelion".

This game is supposed to be set in the timeframe of the rebelion against the DC on the planet Beta VII. I am thinking along the lines that the player will be a Draconis MP (or the like) cut off from his counter-insurgent unit, alone, and facing the wrath of the Beta VII rebels and rioters while fighting through a series of levels.

The setup and style of the game I am hoping will be kinda like the old game DOOM. Only less violent and evil.

But my question is, how far deep can I embed the MechWarrior2 theme into this game without getting into any legal trouble?
-Can I use the name Beta VII?
-Can I use MW2/Merc geometry?
-Can I use any of the music?
-Can I use any of the MW2/Merc military insignia?
-Can I use any of the names like "Battlemech", or any of the names asigned to certain mechs?

Appriciate the help.

If anyone would like to give out some suggestions on what the game could be like, let me know. :)
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

P.S., here is a sample game startup sreen, may or may not be final:
BETA VII: THE REBELION startup screen.
BETA VII: THE REBELION startup screen.
BETA7.JPG (130.53 KiB) Viewed 10638 times
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
User avatar
Sir MMPD Radick
Clan Nova Captain
Clan Nova Captain
Posts: 1625
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:07 am

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

Basically I would just not use any of mech2's stuff in the game. You may not get caught as some games have already done that, but it still is under copyright and could get you in trouble eventually.
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

What about geometry? Are clusters of dots and planes illegal to use too? :?
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

And another thing, I don't want to distribute such a game for profit, but I'd want to put it up in many places online for download and free of charge. You know, just for fun.

I am guessing geometry would be okay to use, I have seen pictures online and music and such that were (C), but there seems to be nothing on these 3D shapes and they look like they are up for grabs.
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
allmhuran
House Steiner Private
House Steiner Private
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:12 pm

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by allmhuran »

Do you mean taking specific constructs like mech designs? Those are definitely copyrighted. FASA itself had huge problems with the Warhammer model and a few others.
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

Do you mean taking specific constructs like mech designs? Those are definitely copyrighted. FASA itself had huge problems with the Warhammer model and a few others.
I'm thinking of a simple FPS type of game, a mech would be a big, big enemy for a soldier to take on. When I was talking about geometry, I was thinking of geometry such as mesas, nuke plants, MBTs, buildings, some scenery and civilian vehicles, etc.
Although, a mech boss-battle doesn't sound too bad... but I'd have to come up with a new chassis as to not violate any laws.
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
User avatar
Sir MMPD Radick
Clan Nova Captain
Clan Nova Captain
Posts: 1625
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:07 am

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

answer is yes pretty much taking anything from mech2 is a volation of copyright.
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
User avatar
Col.Kell
House Steiner Archon
House Steiner Archon
Posts: 868
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:44 am
Location: An Isolated Tennessee Valley.

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by Col.Kell »

*Scraps blueprint*
And that spells the death of this thread.
MechWarrior 2: 31stCC
Image
allmhuran
House Steiner Private
House Steiner Private
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:12 pm

Re: A New Game. What's Legal And What's Not?

Post by allmhuran »

Actually I think you can get away with mesas, generic buildings, etc, becuase they are generic.
Locked