Questions about CopyRights ?

Post » Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:03 pm

I've decided i want to become a Game Developer/Designer for my career, and from my knowledge, many honest developers begin with small games.
So from that, i want to create a small online Text-Based Browser rpg game, i want to use the map locations based on the Regions of Vardenfell or yet if i could, just call the game Morrowind Online. I tend to get lazy when it comes to name thinking and lore mastering.

Now - i have no clue about if I'm allowed to do this, if it's fine with Bethesda. I also have no idea how to contact them. If anyone could help, I'd appreciate it a lot.
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Melly Angelic
 
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Post » Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:51 am

http://www.gamesas.com/user/365941-gstaff/ is the person you want to contact. Good luck! :)

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adame
 
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Post » Fri Jun 27, 2014 6:35 pm

you would have to contact someone at bethesda, no idea how, BUT it is unlikely they would allow someone to use the TES name for a Indi project.

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Petr Jordy Zugar
 
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Post » Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:03 pm

Now if your game was a parody of Tamriel... with the Dank Elves living in the Imperial Province of Mustywind where the foul odors emanating from Brown Mountain poison the minds and digestive tracts of the devout and faithful.

...also no idea about the legality there.

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Solène We
 
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Post » Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:12 am

Obviously I can't speak for Bethesda, but I would be very surprised if they would allow the use of their intellectual property (titles, place names, story elements, etc.)

If my understanding of copyright law is correct, titles of works (like "Morrowind") can't be protected by copyright, but are instead protected by trademarks. The contents of video games (story plots, characters, maps, etc.) are copyright protected. Either way, the owner has absolute control over their use.

I would strongly suggest working to produce a unique and original product. Doing so will free you from any possible legal entanglements, and will also strengthen your credentials as you go forward in this career. Good luck with it! :)

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Charlotte Buckley
 
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Post » Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:13 am

It's very simple to make your own RPG and take inspiration from TES. I always wanted to, I had plans of a continent which is 50x bigger than Tamriel, with a lot of rich history. That way, you won't get into trouble ;)

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FLYBOYLEAK
 
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Post » Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:25 pm

Here's what I'd do. Sit down with a pencil and paper and just doodle some "map shapes." Put in some mountains and rivers in appropriate locations. Then plug in a few cities and towns in places where they would logically develop, like at the mouths of rivers, crossroads where roads from other cities would meet, etc. (Remember that rivers start in mountains and high wetlands, and flow downhill to the sea. :) )

For place-names, I would slightly alter the names of real-world places. For instance, changing a couple of letters, "London" becomes "Lordos." (Bethesda did this in Morrowind, altering the real "Balmoral" into "Balmora.")

I find that working at a problem this way leads to inspiration. You might be surprised at what comes up. :)

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Floor Punch
 
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