Noob needs help with copy right type stuff
by Ice Man · in General Discussion · 04/24/2004 (10:13 am) · 13 replies
What do i need to do if i want to use saiyans (from the dragon ball z) in a game but dont intind to use any charectors from the series. i also plan to add a few changes. can i change the saiyans a little or will that be a "no no"
About the author
#2
04/24/2004 (11:34 am)
It is real simple if it ain't yours you can't use it. I am pretty sure that the Saiyans is copyright someone otherthan yourself so you can't use it without their written permission.
#3
04/24/2004 (1:15 pm)
I believe Saiyan is a japanese word meaning CheeseMan or something... In which case it would be uncopyrightable would it not? (As it is a single word froma language?)
#4
So that "image/idea" is most likely owned by Dragon Ball Z. If you take Aladdin from Disney and "tweek it" its still Disney's even though Aladdin (and the story) is in the public domain. (Disney's Version is not)
04/24/2004 (1:48 pm)
The key is Quote:
saiyans (from the dragon ball z)
So that "image/idea" is most likely owned by Dragon Ball Z. If you take Aladdin from Disney and "tweek it" its still Disney's even though Aladdin (and the story) is in the public domain. (Disney's Version is not)
#5
Anything in recent memory as far as books, movies, comic books, TV shows, etc. that features recognizable characters and settings is off-limits unless you specifically purchase the rights to use those characters and settings, or you have explicit written permission that you may use them.
That's the general rule. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.
--"The public domain" is a class or category of works which are no longer covered under a specific copyright, either because the author is dead or the author was lax and let the rights lapse. The latter is less likely to happen these days, since the copyright laws extend for a period of 70 years after an individual's death or 90 years (I think) from the creation of the material. However, because of this, there is a large wealth of material out there which is freely available. This does not give you license to claim the ownership of those characters. (And let's face it, somebody claiming they created the character of Tom Sawyer would be asking for trouble) However, you can use those characters in an innovative fashion. Keep in mind also that the public domain contains a great number of plays from centuries in the past. Go to the classics section of your library. Sophocles, Euripedes, and other playwrights from antiquity (if you can find them), along with comparatively recent works from Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and their contemporaries. Historical works from scholars such as Xenophon and Tacitus provide not only a rich background for settings and characters, they might even be able to make brief appearances. Mythological characters from various cultures can make for a host of interesting heroes and villains for a game, or the basis for new characters and character types. (Imagine the Norse myth of Ragnarok set five thousand years in the future, with the Aesir and the Jotuns as alien races.) Bottom line, people were coming up with interesting characters and creatures long before Akira Toriyama came up with Saiyans.
--Creativecommons.org is slowly building a body of work that you might be able to incorporate into your game. Some of it may only be for attribution, some may want to get paid. The good news is that it'll say exactly what's expected of you should you choose a specific piece of material and it'll say so in plain English.
creativecommons.org
--Sometimes, the simplest thing in the world is just to ask the creator. The worst that will happen is they will say, "No." Bear in mind, there's a team here featured on GarageGames that is doing a game based off the webcomic "Penny Arcade," so sometimes just asking pays off.
Hope this helps.
04/24/2004 (1:55 pm)
I'm almost tempted to say, "If you have to ask, then you almost certainly can't."Anything in recent memory as far as books, movies, comic books, TV shows, etc. that features recognizable characters and settings is off-limits unless you specifically purchase the rights to use those characters and settings, or you have explicit written permission that you may use them.
That's the general rule. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.
--"The public domain" is a class or category of works which are no longer covered under a specific copyright, either because the author is dead or the author was lax and let the rights lapse. The latter is less likely to happen these days, since the copyright laws extend for a period of 70 years after an individual's death or 90 years (I think) from the creation of the material. However, because of this, there is a large wealth of material out there which is freely available. This does not give you license to claim the ownership of those characters. (And let's face it, somebody claiming they created the character of Tom Sawyer would be asking for trouble) However, you can use those characters in an innovative fashion. Keep in mind also that the public domain contains a great number of plays from centuries in the past. Go to the classics section of your library. Sophocles, Euripedes, and other playwrights from antiquity (if you can find them), along with comparatively recent works from Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and their contemporaries. Historical works from scholars such as Xenophon and Tacitus provide not only a rich background for settings and characters, they might even be able to make brief appearances. Mythological characters from various cultures can make for a host of interesting heroes and villains for a game, or the basis for new characters and character types. (Imagine the Norse myth of Ragnarok set five thousand years in the future, with the Aesir and the Jotuns as alien races.) Bottom line, people were coming up with interesting characters and creatures long before Akira Toriyama came up with Saiyans.
--Creativecommons.org is slowly building a body of work that you might be able to incorporate into your game. Some of it may only be for attribution, some may want to get paid. The good news is that it'll say exactly what's expected of you should you choose a specific piece of material and it'll say so in plain English.
creativecommons.org
--Sometimes, the simplest thing in the world is just to ask the creator. The worst that will happen is they will say, "No." Bear in mind, there's a team here featured on GarageGames that is doing a game based off the webcomic "Penny Arcade," so sometimes just asking pays off.
Hope this helps.
#6
As to TRADEMARK Microsoft trademarked WINDOWS and has defended it all across the world in the context of Operating Systems, since it means something SPECIFIC in a SPECIFIC industry.
TRADEMARK and COPYRIGHT law is simple, and Alex is right, if you have to ask the answer is probably no, and if it is not yours then the answer is definately no.
04/24/2004 (2:48 pm)
Sam you are talking about TRADEMARK, which is different from COPYRIGHT. And in this case the defination of the "race" of Saiyan's in DBZ is definately COPYRIGHTED as well as all the likeness of the characters.As to TRADEMARK Microsoft trademarked WINDOWS and has defended it all across the world in the context of Operating Systems, since it means something SPECIFIC in a SPECIFIC industry.
TRADEMARK and COPYRIGHT law is simple, and Alex is right, if you have to ask the answer is probably no, and if it is not yours then the answer is definately no.
#7
04/24/2004 (6:16 pm)
Instead of using an idea or realm that is pre-existing, take into account as factors of the Dragonballs greater being and you'll appreciate how the series was formed. After that, you will realize that the idea of the Saiya-jin warriors is apparent in things that predate the Dragonball series itself. The fighting styles are nothing new and the idea of metahuman capability is ancient. The end result is that you are free to design a game that is influenced by Dragonball, but once you get the creative juices flowing I'm betting the two will become distinct. However, people can smell a rip-off from a mile away... so tread softly.
#8
Where do you get that idea?
If it belongs to someon else, you can't use it unless you license it.
In this case, what you would need to do if you want to use this IP is contact the owners and try to negotiate use of the IP.
04/24/2004 (6:19 pm)
Quote:It is real simple if it ain't yours you can't use it
Where do you get that idea?
If it belongs to someon else, you can't use it unless you license it.
In this case, what you would need to do if you want to use this IP is contact the owners and try to negotiate use of the IP.
#9
04/25/2004 (1:19 am)
You're right it doesn't hurt to ask. I just asked a band I really like if I could use their music in my game. They said yes.
#10
04/25/2004 (3:42 am)
Ok, bassically Saiyans are just flying people with magical powers... Why not make flying people with magical powers and call them something other than Saiyans? (Don't steal the same powers DBZ has, or anything like that.) I mean, they can't say that you broke a copyright by making a flying man with magic powers, or you wouldn't be allowed to make witch halloween costumes or anything like that.
#11
Make up your own race that has ONE of the same powers as Saiyans. And don't call them Saiyans. Make them strange in some way so that they don't seem like Saiyans.
This will keep you from getting sued, and having a brand new race is much more interesting than seeing the same idea twice anyways.
04/25/2004 (7:15 pm)
Yes, Sam has the right idea.Make up your own race that has ONE of the same powers as Saiyans. And don't call them Saiyans. Make them strange in some way so that they don't seem like Saiyans.
This will keep you from getting sued, and having a brand new race is much more interesting than seeing the same idea twice anyways.
#12
04/25/2004 (11:11 pm)
That sounds suspiciously like being creative. I like it. :P
#13
-Ice
04/26/2004 (8:13 am)
I know this all know, a guy in a chat told me all of that so i did become creative. i am using elemental powerups for magic, and a were-wolf style of "flying people" to do it. it actualy fits my story much better than the "communist bas..." umm that meant sayians. i sliped. time for anger managment. i also know the origin of dragon ball. ever hear the ancient tale of the monkey emporer. he resembles a sertiant pint sized hero with a tale. he even had the power stick too. hmmm. can we say they are lame! when i began trying out diffrent ideas i looked for ancient themes and found that one thanks for all the help "insert gender neutral pronoun type word" -Ice
Ice Man