Textures and Legal Issues
by Scott Doerrfeld · in Artist Corner · 12/26/2006 (5:49 pm) · 12 replies
Is it illegal to use images on the web for textures in a 3D game? For example, let's say you are creating realistic human models and you need textures for their clothing. Could you grab images from the GAP website to create your clothes textures? How would this be different from taking a photo of yourself wearing GAP (or whatever) clothes and using those for textures in your game?
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#3
12/26/2006 (6:23 pm)
Thanks. That helps answer my first question. But what about taking photographs of clothes that I bought and using those? 
#4
12/26/2006 (6:27 pm)
Well, the images that you are nabbing are copyrighted images (and if you are using something with a logo, the logo is most likely trademarked as well). Just because it is available online does not mean that it is "free" to use any way you like. You can grab the Golgotha textures from my site.
#6
12/26/2006 (6:28 pm)
Using a Fubu logo is a good way to get a quick cease and desist order for your texture usage. Design your own logos or have someone else design them.
#7
12/26/2006 (7:10 pm)
Scott you should be fine using your own original photography. people here are always going to advise you to play it safe, but lots of people do those kinds of things all the time and get away with it. sometimes they get caught, sometimes they don't. only you can weigh the risk. 
#8
For prototyping this is a good idea as it saves you time creating art that might not be necessary. But when you commit to an image, you have to recreate it from your own hand.
A weapon photograph is a good example. Use it to model with to get the right proportions, but when it comes time to use the image (ie in a game or content pack), you have to either photograph one yourself, or use that photo and hand draw (using photoshop, shading, emboss rah rah) a copy of it, throwing away the original before sale.
12/26/2006 (7:22 pm)
Also you can use copyright images during development, but the moment you start to sell your work you cannot. For prototyping this is a good idea as it saves you time creating art that might not be necessary. But when you commit to an image, you have to recreate it from your own hand.
A weapon photograph is a good example. Use it to model with to get the right proportions, but when it comes time to use the image (ie in a game or content pack), you have to either photograph one yourself, or use that photo and hand draw (using photoshop, shading, emboss rah rah) a copy of it, throwing away the original before sale.
#9
12/26/2006 (7:43 pm)
Yes. Reference art is definitely a helpful use for internet (or photocopied) images. 
#10
The moment you distribute it, rather.
12/27/2006 (3:26 am)
Quote:
Also you can use copyright images during development, but the moment you start to sell your work you cannot.
The moment you distribute it, rather.
#11
12/27/2006 (4:00 pm)
I wouldnt advertise somone elses products in a game. They should pay you for that...but undoubtable the way that law is described in the website. It's bass ackwards....the second part of the law is very important they would have to show damages in the way of loss of profits. I would say not to put nike shoes on player till nike pays you to do that for them or gap or whatever.
#12
12/28/2006 (7:51 am)
Basically take pictures of all the gap/old navy etc clothes you want change the logo or edit the logo out completly and use that, especially if it's just a pair of jeans or a normally everyday shirt no one can say that those clothes are specifically gap/old navy etc without the logo since all companies make the same basic clothing. But if you want the logo in there then you have to contact the company. Everyone on here advises in the extreme safe realm, I would say as long as you changed the logo you'd be fine, for instance you may have noticed on tv when someone uses a dunkin donuts looking box but changes it to donuts donuts, still uses same colors and pattern so there's no doubt to the viewer that it's supposed to be dunkin donuts but since it doesn't say that they're fine 
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