Legal issue!?

Helen · 05-21-2008, 02:57 AM

Hi there,

An interesting legal issue is bothering me lately...
There are lots of games with different super heroes and cartoon heroes that are under someone's copyright. So according to the law issues we should buy license to use the games like that...or the right owners can sue you.
Am I right? Or it's ok to place games with Shrek, Tom&Jerry or Winx on our sites?

hawkal · 05-21-2008, 03:22 AM

My understanding on such an issue is that any law breaking occurs when someone infringes copyrights by making a game with such characters unless it was made by the copyright holders or with their permission.

Chances are if you did get contacted by the copyright owners you would get a cease and desist letter from their lawyers or some form of removal notification. If you just comply with what they ask at that point then there shouldn't be any issues.

RickyG · 05-21-2008, 04:27 AM

To add to hawkal post...

Even a game that a creator made for thier site soley. They dont want it distrubited. They can also lay claim.
RickyG

hitsfree · 05-21-2008, 09:47 AM

Just placing such a game on your site is questionable. I don't think they will license such games to you though.

gamesoid · 05-21-2008, 09:55 AM

And what about creating such games, I noticed a lot of Mario, Pacman, Barbie... etc unofficial games?

brendgard · 05-21-2008, 11:00 AM

They're not even questionble practices, neither displaying, nor creating. If the owner of said character decides to shut it down, they can do so at any time. However, when you display a game that infringes, they simply send a letter saying stop or else, giving you the option to be smart and stop without incuring an expensive legal battle you can't win. If you create such material though, they might not be so nice. If you created something, they view it as you hurt them financialy and can go after damages as well. It doesn't happen in the arcade site often, so far, but that option is open to them. And it is their sole discretion whether to excersize it or not, not yours. This means it has the potential to get extremely costly for you, and you have no say in it. Fortunatly it has not happened in our niche very much, so far. So far it has just been simply sending out cease and desist letters.

Badim · 05-21-2008, 12:35 PM

I `ll add my 5cent as developer - developing games with smt that should be licensed, as spider man, or Shrek, brings are less money, then normal game. If paying a non-license holder.
It`s why that games are so disgusting =(

Helen · 05-28-2008, 01:30 AM

Thanks for your answers guys!
One more thing... Have you heard about Mochi ads? What's that?

makubex · 05-28-2008, 03:57 AM

oww... thats strange...
Mochi ads is a ad revenue program that allows developers to place advertisement inside their game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helen

Thanks for your answers guys!
One more thing... Have you heard about Mochi ads? What's that?

05-21-2008, 02:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Helen Preferred Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 131	Legal issue!? Hi there, An interesting legal issue is bothering me lately... There are lots of games with different super heroes and cartoon heroes that are under someone's copyright. So according to the law issues we should buy license to use the games like that...or the right owners can sue you. Am I right? Or it's ok to place games with Shrek, Tom&Jerry or Winx on our sites? __________________ Games Banner Network, Inc http://www.gamesbannernet.com http://www.arcades-forum.com Go Arcades!

05-21-2008, 03:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
hawkal Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 208	My understanding on such an issue is that any law breaking occurs when someone infringes copyrights by making a game with such characters unless it was made by the copyright holders or with their permission. Chances are if you did get contacted by the copyright owners you would get a cease and desist letter from their lawyers or some form of removal notification. If you just comply with what they ask at that point then there shouldn't be any issues. __________________ www.ownage.us www.Allarcade.us

05-21-2008, 04:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
RickyG Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Under Your Mouse! Posts: 1,105	To add to hawkal post... Even a game that a creator made for thier site soley. They dont want it distrubited. They can also lay claim. RickyG __________________ Arcade Banner Exchange, game packs, top site, arcade script and forum for all of your arcade needs http://www.mibbi.com

05-21-2008, 09:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
gamesoid Full Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 52	And what about creating such games, I noticed a lot of Mario, Pacman, Barbie... etc unofficial games? __________________ Free Online Games :_: Girls Games

05-21-2008, 11:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
brendgard Gamer FX Staff Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 674	They're not even questionble practices, neither displaying, nor creating. If the owner of said character decides to shut it down, they can do so at any time. However, when you display a game that infringes, they simply send a letter saying stop or else, giving you the option to be smart and stop without incuring an expensive legal battle you can't win. If you create such material though, they might not be so nice. If you created something, they view it as you hurt them financialy and can go after damages as well. It doesn't happen in the arcade site often, so far, but that option is open to them. And it is their sole discretion whether to excersize it or not, not yours. This means it has the potential to get extremely costly for you, and you have no say in it. Fortunatly it has not happened in our niche very much, so far. So far it has just been simply sending out cease and desist letters. __________________ http://gamersgo.com A list of arcade related sites, add yours. http://auntiefondy.com Lists, add your site. http://kbsplace.com

05-21-2008, 09:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
hitsfree Cranky Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 509	Just placing such a game on your site is questionable. I don't think they will license such games to you though.

05-21-2008, 12:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Badim Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Russia Posts: 36	I `ll add my 5cent as developer - developing games with smt that should be licensed, as spider man, or Shrek, brings are less money, then normal game. If paying a non-license holder. It`s why that games are so disgusting =(

05-28-2008, 01:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Helen Preferred Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 131	Thanks for your answers guys! One more thing... Have you heard about Mochi ads? What's that? __________________ Games Banner Network, Inc http://www.gamesbannernet.com http://www.arcades-forum.com Go Arcades!

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