Our new game

Hello Unity Community,

I'm currently making a fan game based on a sucessful game franchise,

I was wondering if i can get any copyright troubles about it, i heard that if you make a fan game, you won't be shut down, is that true?

I saw a few such fan games, receiving donation money from people to support them, if you receive donations for a fan game is it still legal?


I don't know if this is the right area to post this, i'm sorry if isn't.
I'll show the actual project updates soon.

Thanks in advance.

 

I think it depends on the developer of the original IP and the rights holder.

Why make it a fan game? If you are going to put such work into a project, call it an inspired by game. Develop your own IP with the same core mechanics and you have nothing to fear on the legal side.

 

I agree. Making a game based off an existing IP is more trouble than it's worth, unless THEY come to YOU for it.

 

Do you really think you can advertise a game by putting labels like "A Super Mario Inspired Game....bla bla...Super Mario is a registered trademark of Nintendo". I think one can have problems with that too.

 

I hadn't thought of literally doing that. You don't really even have to say it at all. Fans of the game in question would probably recognize the influence. And for those who don't, who really cares what the inspiration is as long as it is an enjoyable experience.

One more thought though. A whole genre came form this idea of inspired by: "Rogue-Like". I think when you get down to it, the best way to describe a game to someone who hasn't yet experienced it would be to draw on previous titles that are similar. Banjo Kazooie is like Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario 64 with a different vibe.

I sometimes see forum posts where a person is looking for a game similar to another game. Especially in the mobile world.

 

This is false. Unequivocally. Doesn't matter if you make money off it or not. You're infringing on another entity's copyrights and trademarks and it is therefore completely within that entity's rights to C&D you. End of story.

Now - game mechanics are typically not able to be copyrighted (thank god). So you can make a game that functions similar to another on a mechanical level (indeed - companies do this all the time). This is why, for example. Torchlight does not infringe upon Diablo. Mechanically they are very similar in that they are point-and-click action RPGs with procedurally generated dungeons where players kill monster for loot. If they, instead, made a game that "was a fan game inspired by Diablo where you play a Barbarian and get to go kill Diablo's cousin Phil" then you're running into trouble.

 

Well, all my questions are answered now.

Too bad for me, i'll have to rebuild a lot of stuff on my project to make it "clean" and unique, but now, at least, i won't have copyright problems.

@KelsoMRK , Thank you very much for your instructions, i didn't know much about legal stuff, i appreciate that.


And for all the other replies, i just wanna say thank you, The unity community members are the best, you guys provide quick support and you really are the friendliest people on the market ...

Best regards

 

.... When are people going to learn this by now?