Mods based on existing copyrights Thread

I see it a lot, all these ppl with ideas for mods based on this and this show, movie game or other medium. While of course al good fun (I love Star Gate SG-1 so a mod would be really cool) but fact remains is that it is copyrighted and no permission was given to use that copyright. Those companys make money by selling the rights to their Intellectual Property (IP) and why shouldn't it apply to anyone here?

Of course buying IP rights for a mod isn't really feasible (unless you can get it real cheap) so the next best thing is permission. Find the company or person who holds the rights to the IP on which you want to base a mod. If they say no, then forget it and go on with life (which is the most propable answer). If they do say yes, make sure you get the permission in writing and signed (legal isseus concerning contracts and documents may vary per country so check it out). This will propably work better with older and seemingly abandoned IP (Police Quest, Duke Nukem(haha) or any other old show/game/movie). But even so chances are very small, with the recent Starsky and Hutch game as an example to show that even the older ones can make money these days for the holder of the rights.

Also IF you do get permission don't go screw them over, try to stay true to the show/game/movie and when it's finished mail a copy to whoever gave the permission, to say thanks. Don't do this though when you think he is not gonna like it (srewing over-wise).

If you don't get the rights, bad luck. Move on with life, there are more options available. Try non-licensed material. Real-life places have no IP rights nor do historic events.

Now comes the kicker, be original.
Make up your own story, characters, world and whatever. How many WWII/Vietnam/realistic/etc shooters do we need? How many mods, half-way abandond due to licensing IP rights isseus, do we need? If it's your sole purpose to piss ppl off with making unlicensed games then why not try a WTC mod or something with concentration camps to get ppl pissed at you (NOT recommended).

Modding is for fun, some use it as a springboard into the gaming industry and others to show off to whomever. It all stops when a company holding the rights to IP you'r putting in your mod goes after you. NO fun, NO job and showing off a C&D letter might be

Anyways, thats what I think about these isseus, I'm more then happy to hear what you guys think about it.

hey hey!
Moddb.com should cover all my views...

I agree with jimius GET YOUR OWN IDEAS!

ya damn copycats... :mad:

I also agree with all that above. Too bad DBZ modders and other kiddie modders don't read the fine print or bother with legal issues.

the fine print hurts their eyes, give em a break

I agree... but then again, everything has pretty much already been coined, I just say put as much original twist on it as possible, so it'll atleast be fun and not just "awe crap, ANOTHER counter-strike..." or whatever.

the key is, be mofo creative, gawd