Racing game car licence.

Hello,

Does anyone know how to get car company licences for your game?

And if it is possible to just use the car models,if not.

 

Contact the car manufacturer directly, make an inquiry.

I wouldn't recommend it. Technically you could, but be prepared for the lawsuits that may follow.

 

I mean I would focus on making a good game first. Then the game would have to be very popular and making money to even raise their attention. By then you will be in a better position to handle it. Why spend that kind of money when your not
even out there yet.

 

Not a good idea, if the game took off they could definitely cause you problems. I would suppose just replacing all emblems and lettering that uses the actual names from your models, and maybe add some extra flare to the appearance to make them slightly different looking than the real thing (think GTA series, "banshee" = dodge viper) and that way you avoid the trouble of contacting the manufacturer and can still have that look. Problem is in racing games players do sort of expect legit real cars, and those are always licensed. I wouldn't be able to tell you how to go about doing that!

EDIT: and you don't want to wait til post-release to start getting permission from the manufacturer if the game does well. If you hype the game, and people seem to like it, and you think it is going to do well on launch, definitely go the extra mile and seek out those licenses - however I can't imagine everyone lets you use their vehicles likeness's for free... who knows though maybe some manufacturers just require you to slap an endorsement in the credits or a disclaimer at the splash screens saying "blah blah is a product of blah blah inc".

 

I see well what about this?

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/191864/EA_doesnt_want_to_pay_gun_manufacturers_anymore.php

 

Yes, and add more into the game, more interesting mechanics.

 

That EA link you posted is interesting. I always considered EA a kind of... less legal company... they have a history of trying to stick it to the man I guess, like back in their early days with Nintendo and Sega controversies over licensing and such.

Anyway don't do what they do - they can take that risk because they have millions of dollars to throw at lawyers and try to avoid paying licenses for those weapons long term. But for a racing game (where cars are the "stars" of the game) it is really critical to tread lightly on copyright of the likeness of real vehicles. I am no pro in this area I just suggest not using legit cars if you can avoid it, because it is always better safe than... sued the crap out of! lol

Anyway if you use original (even if strikingly similar to real) models of cars, and avoid real emblems, and real names to call those vehicles, you will be fine.

Good luck!

 

Get permission from the car manufacturer, signed and in writing.

From what I've read, some manufacturers have specific rules for using their vehicles in games.

They might also want to take a look at other games you've made to get an idea of quality. If you haven't made any games before they might not give you permission.

 

Big names have big lawyers. Don't trust them. Do things GTA style, and rename/rebrand everything (and alter the shape a bit).

 

This is old one but rather than create new I'll try to revive it
What do you think about "cartoonish cars" representation?
Like this one

Spoiler: randomCar

Of course without mentioning their actual names

 

It probably would have been better to create a new thread than to revive one so old.

The car looks great but you copied their grill very closely. That on it's own, will almost certainly get you in trouble. If you closely copy a signature feature of a car, it likely doesn't matter how much you change the rest of it.

 

GoesTo11 thank you
Yeah, indeed maybe wrong example
How about this one?
Actually this is from asset store, guess should be alright?
Thanks

 

I am not a lawyer but, in my opinion, it is not alright. Although it is "cartoonish", it is still a classic 911. The body, headlights, front bumper, hood, rear wing all look directly taken from a 911. Nothing in the model would look out of place on a 911. I think you need to have significant differences from the design of real cars. Maybe a general body shape that looks like a 911 but more smoothed out and then add something that would look distinctly out of place on a 911.

 

yeah man but i doubt that nfs no limits is actualy licenced i mean toyota is in it and it took of on the mobile but still none gives a damn about a mobile game so i think if you limit yourself to that you should be fine
(yes no limits is a free to play game but it still makes some cash by ads or somewhat pay to win content where if you don't want to wait for the fuel to recharge you pay for it)

 

I would say GTA have had cars pretty similar to the orginal cars. For example Comet in Vice city is pretty close to a 911 Targa



Stay away from logos etc

edit: GTA V counterpart

 

Now, look at the posting dates.

 

Don't be foolish. NFS: No Limits is published by EA, who most certainly licenses everything because the alternative would be them, a high profile publisher, getting demolished in court.

 

Sarcasm?

https://www.engadget.com/2013-08-16-ea-settles-battlefield-3-and-textron-helicopter-lawsuit.html

 

The fair use policies surrounding military aircraft are kinda a wildly different situation that has been having its own thing going on.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/2...e-call-of-duty-trademark-infringement-lawsuit

 

There are key visual differences here. The headlights are the same but also the same as something like a 240Z. The headlight bulge in the hood is completely missing. The hood is angled and flat. It is hard to tell but the back looks significantly different and has no side window. These kinds of differences make a difference. Whether it is enough to stop you from getting sued? That I can't tell you.

 

And even if they didn't get the licenses, they have a legal department and the revenue to fight legal disputes for years without any serious worry. An indie dev could see all revenue from their game lost to lawyer fees before even showing up to your court date, and IP owners know this.

 

The first post is from 2014.

 

Just change the car badges and names and allow your game to be 'modded' by users easily so they can change car names and badges to 'anything' they like.

that's how a lot of low budget sports games get past not having naming rights for players.

I'm not sure if you need to be worried about car likenesses, I'm not sure a car shape can be a Trade Mark...?

 

Yes, but they are still sketchy waters to tread...

For most of us, they are best rather avoided.

 

It is still subject to copyright and on top of copyright it can also be patented.

 

My GTA V image above there is no question that its a Porsche, the Vice City Posrche is less looing like a porsche

 

There are differences in the shape of the "face" and shape of the headlights, mismatch of some details and so on.

That makes it a similar car but not the same car.

If you find photos of corresponding cars, it would be quite easy to point them out.

 

I own a Porsche so I know the difference But thats the point. Change it a little and people will still recognize it but you will not get into legal trouble. Though there is nothing stopping Posrche from suing you anyway and then you need lawyers that probably can free you, but it will cost you

 

Google "Rogers vs Koons".

 

Interesting. I'd like to know why games are treated differently than TV shows for example.

Many of those will feature debranded cars that are still recognizable by anyone. Yet nobody expects your average sitcom to customise a car to make it different enough to avoid using the original design. Car manufacturers themselves don't do it as shown in this picture where some vehicles aren't from WV.



I'm curious to know what are the legal limitations because if you think about it, it's almost impossible to make a media set in our time without reusing existing designs.

 

It may have something to do with a player typically being able to wreck in-game cars or drive them. Which has a chance affect brand image, and does not happen in sitcom.

For example, if you use a car of brand X in your game, it is real, BUT also happens to be the absolutely worst car in the game, then it wouldn't surprise me if the manufacturer would have a beef with it.

 

A sitcom can still damage a vehicle image with a negative character which is why they unbrand everything they can.

Yes but that would be if I use the actual brand. We all agree that you're not allowed to do that.

but if the car is unbranded, I don't know if it's good enough like it would be for a movie or a tv show.