Heh, yeah, Lucas might not like it that he didn't think of it first. :p

I suppose you could liken it to Viacom's ruthless persecution of anyone who does anything with star wars, federation of planets, klingon, or any other of their copyrighted properties. I remember some martial arts instructor came up with a kata for the Bat'leth and published a book on it. Viacom came down on him like a ton of bricks. Wouldn't even let him give the book away free. It's why you never see unlicensed Klingon foreheads or Bajoran Nose ridges. They're always called "Alien (insert piece here)" so Viacom can't ream them with the giant spiky implement they call their lawyers.

I don't know how Lucas would react to hearing that someone has made a mod for Freelancer, or if they could do anything if they didn't like it, but if I ever get around to making the Star Trek mods I want, I'm definitely not going to list it as Star Trek or attach any of the copyrighted titles to them.

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Thanks for the heads up, "Starwars" will be avoided.
anything else that we cannot use? how about ship names and background, can those have reference to Starwars universe?


rapid

ok this seems a bit exaggerated....many games have mods with "Star Wars" or star wars things like "lightsaber" in the name.

the only time they can get angry is if people make software (that is sold) with any trademarked name in the title.

maybe title the mod "Popular Science Fiction Movie Mod" lol don't worry about Lucas, cuz he isnt' the one looking out for people using his trademarked things...just his bloodthristy lawyers. actually don't worry about names at all. the only thing you should worry about is not getting money off of this.

Edited by - Siddious on 21-04-2003 20:00:58

Still, it couldn't hurt. Possible names:

"Galaxy Far, Far Away"
"Power of the Force"
"Galactic Conflict"
-all followed by "mod" or "total conversion"

I know those names are kinda dumb, but I am not very good at thinking of titles. Anyone who's better at it than I am, feel free to pitch in.

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world:
those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Only a question HaVoK-G2. Did you get a Mail or whatever from Lucas Licensing Ltd. or why did you have to change the name of the mod?

Btw: A solution is to write Lucas Licensing Ltd. a Mail, where you ask, if you can use the name "Star Wars" and other things, for your mod.

Normally, you can use the name etc., but only , if the game isn´t commercial! If it is commercial.......uhhh then you have a real problem...


Dryx-Thelon

and it's not commercial. so dont' change the name

I think, we can use the name, until we get an E-Mail from them. If they don´t say anything, it´s ok and all are happy!


Dryx-Thelon

Do not write asking for permission. It will be denied.

Just use it, don't try to profit. Be tasteful and respectful, and likely Lucas will regard it is acceptable. You ask, and the lawyers will say no, becasue if they were to say yes, then they couldn't say no later.

It is far easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

So long as you haven't made any money, they have no real reason to come after you, unless you do something that casues them to lose money.

Ceylon

It doesn't matter that you are not selling the mod or making a profit in any way, it is being used on a game that is selling and is making a profit. If you make a successful "Star Wars" or "Power of the Force" "Battle of Tattoine" or use any of their copyrighted/patented/salesmarked/trademarked or otherwise legally owned names, there is a very large possibility that they will become very unhappy with you. They do not want you to come up with a working, nay perfect TC mod for Freelancer (a game that already sells well and has an established user base) because that means that they will have to work all that much harder to create a better game when the time comes for them to want to. They cannot use the Freelancer game engine like we can because they are out for total profit. They will have to pay their programmers lots of money to make a better engine and game. OR they can just keep you from releasing a total conversion at all. Once you use their name, the mighty hand of Lucas will smite thee down and most likely do some unpleasant things to thee. Their eye will be upon you after that, to make sure you do not use their designs either.

But then those are just the paranoid ramblings of someone who watched Viacom do something very similar to anyone bold enough to use Star Trek or any associated names. (This is why you have to buy "Alien" Nose ridges "Alien" ears and "Alien" foreheads.)

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paranoid is right lol. no offense of course.

besides, if they dont' like it, the modders can easily rename their mod.

[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_[_
Yep. I'm obsessed with the Star Wars mod.

Heheh, if lucas doesn't like it, renaming the mod won't be an option.

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