8 replies to this topic

[BlaXun]

Hiya everybody,

I plan to use the google market / google play somewhere late september.
I will use 100% original content BESIDE maybe parts of game ideas (nothing nowadays is completely new, but mash-ups from different things).

What problems could arise? I am kinda troubled by the though of people will trying to sue me for stuff like "The idea of moving a space ship from left to right was mine" or something.

Did anybody make any experiences with this yet?
I think this is valuable info for all of us.

Thx in advance
BlaXun

[Debels]

Hiya everybody,

I plan to use the google market / google play somewhere late september.
I will use 100% original content BESIDE maybe parts of game ideas (nothing nowadays is completely new, but mash-ups from different things).

What problems could arise? I am kinda troubled by the though of people will trying to sue me for stuff like "The idea of moving a space ship from left to right was mine" or something.

Did anybody make any experiences with this yet?
I think this is valuable info for all of us.

Thx in advance
BlaXun

If your could get sued because of that most developers wouldn't make games xD

So if your using your own resources your good

[GameDevDan]

Yeh you can't really copyright a game mechanic... most platformers are very similar in basic structure but the creator of the first one doesn't go around suing people.

[BlaXun]

Well, especially when it comes to software I often read articles bout software licenses that license even just a part of the source-code and suddenly you have the copyright to IDEAS that people have on a daily basis. I want to be very secure here ...what you are writing calms me down a lil though. So, I dont have to get a lwayer before publishing my first 100% original game on a google store or anything? xD

[icymx]

Nobody got sued for making platformers after Mario was created, even though it basically defined what a platformer is. Likewise, unless your game is EXACTLY the same as another game, you should be fine.

[dannyjenn]

Ideas (such as game mechanics) can't be copyrighted. They can be patented, but only if they must meet some pretty strict criteria. In general, you're probably safe. Unless you designed something specifically to imitate the way it was done in another game exactly as it was done... and even then you might still be safe (because the mechanic may have never been patentable in the first place, or the patent may have expired).

Edited by dannyjenn, 24 August 2012 - 04:45 PM.

[BlaXun]

Thanks a lot for your comments.
Makes me feel safe a lil more again

[nujuat]

As long as you don't copy resources, names (call it tennis, not pong) or level design, you should be alright.

[MikeHart]

The thing is, you could get sued, no matter what. If they sit in the right country, have enough money, then they could. And if you don't have the money to show up in court, you will automatically loose. But most likely you will get a C&D letter at first. I heard people getting letters or got sued for creating games in the spirit of Tetris, Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds and so on. And their artwork was not even close to the original games. Watch out for patents. And then even there are none, someone might try to get you because they think they have the rights to do so. And if you don't have the money to get a lawyer to fight back, you are screwed. :-)