copyright concerning remake of a game

[Gawain]

i think this could be interesting: http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=440302

[frvge]

It's not a remake.

[Gawain]

but in some way it's a clone  ::)

[LiVe.To.Di3]

its not a remake of the game lol... they are using everything THEIR own aaa wait ill show you the topic so we dont start a same one http://projectstealth.splintercellnetwork.com/index.php?topic=21.0

[Overstatement]

Meh, I don't think anyone will delete this thread so I'll post it in here. point #6. If frvg gets a phonecall, we're going to support him and stick around, right?  ;)

[goodkebab]

simply put,  we are creating all of our own material which has its own visual style.  Nothing is copied.

When we mean clone,  we mean that the game will have all of the same game play features  (sticky cams and grabbing necks...etc etc).  But they will look different visually.

If we copied SAM fisher, used similar names, or copied their visual style...we would run into problems.

We are very much aware of copyright infringment, and have not done so yet.

[Overstatement]

A “derivative work” is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted. A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a “derivative work”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work

Still sounds pretty close. I think it comes down to, if you take random people who have played CT and play our game, will they connect the two games?

[frvge]

Will you connect HL2 with Wolfenstein 3D? Only difference is graphics. Gameplay mechanics are almost the same. Same goes for 99% of all racing sims and all other game modes. We will clone the gameplay of SCCT. You can't copyright a way of playing. All other technological assets like code, music, graphics will be custom-made.

You can't copyright an idea. Only the technological side of the idea : source code or notes or written music or ... or ...

And it won't be made under US law, because that sucks with the DMCA and Millenium Act and stuff.

[Cyntrox]

You may want to check if SC is trademarked - that would suck.

[frvge]

SC is trademarked. But that's only the name and the logo.

And it doesnt suck because we are making our own game.

[Overstatement]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea-expression_divide

Yep, seems like you we're right about the copyrighting idea thing but you can patent it. Now, who wants to search the patent office?

[frvge]

Don't give them ideas. It wouldn't hold a ground btw. A simple analogy to all other games is quickly made, making it hard to defend.

[Valserp]

We'll just get BlackCatGames to sue Ubisoft for stealing their idea about a multiplayer stealth game in the first place.

(I am talking about ThieveryUT, a mod for UT'99 which was out before PT and I think it's the first ever stealth-based multiplayer game).

[frvge]

Pacman is. You needed to hide behind the wall  ;D

[scope2005]

We'll just get BlackCatGames to sue Ubisoft for stealing their idea about a multiplayer stealth game in the first place.

(I am talking about ThieveryUT, a mod for UT'99 which was out before PT and I think it's the first ever stealth-based multiplayer game).

Yeah :D

BCG made the very first multiplayer stealth game as we know it (Thieves/Spies vs Guards/Mercs) - Thievery. If i understand correctly The idea was originally thought up by "Looking Glass studio's", the original owners of the Thief franchise and was to be the multiplayer portion of thier next Thief game. LGS went out of business however, but some of the developers continued to support thier dedicated thief community by opening up the TTLG (through the looking glass) forums. From here community member Dalai gained permission from TTLG to make thier multiplayer stealth concept into a UT mod - and it went on from there.

If it was illegal to clone a gameplay style or mode, I think Ubisoft would have been sued for quite a bit by BCG or LGS, Id love to see them try and close this project as their case would fall flat on its ass.

BCG's current project is an improved (but not cloned), version of thievery for UT3 which has sprung from thier Night-Blade project. They know thier stuff with how to script and program the previous Unreal games, and im sure they could give pointers and advice to Project Stealth if they got stuck in that area ;)