Scratch
archived forums
#1 2008-03-25 18:47:59
Copyright issues?
sorry if this has been discussed, but I would like to know from a person from the Scratch Team (andresmh) or someone who is very trustworthy and experienced (Jens... Paddle2See...) to answer:
If I make a Super Smash Bros. Brawl Game (or any copyrighted game)
is it violating the copyright? if it is situational, please describe and tell me if my Brawl project (on my page... don't want to link right now...) violates any laws.
Just wondering because I was thinking about it yesterday and it could be a big problem?
PS: the people i listed aren't the ONLY people who can post, just people who I thought of off the top of my head
Check out my cool projects!
“Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”
Offline
#2 2008-03-26 04:45:33
Re: Copyright issues?
fbboi999: That's a good question!
I'm not an US lawyer, so I cannot tell you much about the Fair Use doctrine in US law. As a general precaution I'd advise you to refrain from remixing media (sounds, graphics, project titles) for which there may be copyrights or trademarks in projects which you want to share online.
Jens Mönig
Offline
#3 2008-03-26 05:17:40
- Paddle2See
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2007-10-27
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Copyright issues?
I am not a lawyer either so I don't have an informed opinion. Sorry. Here is my *uninformed* opinion.
It is my suspicion that any time you make a project with copyrighted graphics or music and put it on the web (without the express permission of the copyright holder), you are violating their copyright.
I think it is unlikely that their lawyers will prosecute these violations (if that is what they are) as there is no money to be made by doing so. And, it would look bad from a Public Relations viewpoint if they shut down an educational site or arrested some kid. However, if they felt that their intellectual property or their profits were being damaged, they might.
So I'm in agreement with Jens; if you want to be sure you are on the right side of the law, don't use copyrighted material in your projects that you share online.
I would be interested to hear the opinion of some of the Scratch Team members or any Intellectual Property lawyers out there.
Offline
#4 2008-03-26 16:54:23
Re: Copyright issues?
Ok thanks guys, I have one project (Super Smash Bros.) that may violate it because I used the title and title screen image. Do you think that is a violation?
Regardless, I won't use any more things like that, but I'll try to be more original, except for the fact that my Smash Bros. game is only a beta. I'll just change the title screen, but I honestly don't think they care if it is just called that, unless someone really thinks otherwise.
(By the way check out the game, it's my best so far!)
Check out my cool projects!
“Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”
Offline