Copyrights/Trademarks and Big MLP Projects

[Fubz 300]

Usually I would just discuss this with my own DevTeam only but seeing as this is an issue that concerns all MLP large scale projects like ours is scoping out to be, it's appropriate to post here.

 

Yeah well basically I've always felt uneasy creating this MLP game due to copyright scares and I'm wondering what other game devs are doing about this. In my opinion, getting a lot of publicity during production is the worst thing to do, it'll just mean the Hasbro peepz will be keeping a closer eye on you.

Also I'd say don't dream of getting accepted by Hasbro or dream of becoming super famous across the brony fandom because of your game. If you are, you should really revise the reason why you're doing whatever you're doing; just try to finish the damn project. Fame should be an unexpected fortune that arises while you're doing something you're happy and comfortable doing. (That's just my opinion ^-^)

 

And now quickly to the topic So what is the best way to overcome these barriers? I mean it is illegal, and we don't want to get into serious trouble. The ways I was thinking about it was

• Develop everything in secret then, after completion, in a big rush just release it everywhere P: although that might lead you into some big trouble, but the great thing is you have your completed pony project!
• Get a rusty knife and stab your project in the butt, wounding it horribly, may even cause disease, but it will not die and can be fixed up. What I mean is do it the fake way. Change all licensed content to something stupid. Like Twinight Spurkl the Party crazy horse. Or heck, even just remove all trace of ponies completely, and replace it with other stuff. Now you're probably thinking :0 wat no, but here's the cool bit. Side this, just release a ponifying mod with the game. Disguise it as a Translation Pack, I dunno.

Then comes both of these ways together. So you could just follow the first route and leave the second. Meaning you wont get as much a response from the public.

Or you could take the second and leave the first. What this means then is that you could publicise your game (showing off the PonyMod version of course) and then when it comes to legal stuff, be like *quickly hides/deletes Mod*'we ain't got no ponies, just this game with Jonathan the bear shooting his pal Draco the Duck' *shows off poorly drawn sprites with no animation, drawn in half a minute on Paint* - Yeah but seriously, the non-pony version can be as crappy as you want it, no need to put effort into it, unless you want to.

(Gah! Forgot my point about using both )

 

Anyways the safest way would be to completely take out all MLP stuff and forget about a Mod.

I'm happy to go any way at all guys (my own [pirate] crew, not you random forumers) I just need some input P:

 

So what are your tips and advice for this overriding issue? How should we tackle the issue? Should we just forget it; struggle our way through to a heroic and tragic end; be secretive and sly about it; be moderate and mediocre about it and hope for the best? wat do?

 

^That paragraph makes a good TL;DR funnily enough.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Fubz

[Prismatic 49]

I'd say design the game without ponies in mind but not in the game itself.  While injecting them in the latter phases may or may not be the best if the game is great on its own merits ponies are just an afterthought.

[khaine21x3 789]

Well just pass it to me online and I'll upload it here, Hasbro can't sue me coz US copyright laws don't apply down here and maybe I'll get to write a funny sarcastic letter to their legal team.

[Fubz 300]

not a bad idea actually.

 

Anyways our best advice would be here from CloudFyre http://talesofequestria.mlpforums.com/thread-44-post-1595.html#pid1595

I can't remember what it says because my phone's silly, but it's sound advice from somepony who's dealt with this stuff before.

I just got a little disgruntled by recent news.

 

I'd say design the game without ponies in mind but not in the game itself. While injecting them in the latter phases may or may not be the best if the game is great on its own merits ponies are just an afterthought.

Aye, but then there's no point ponifying our own game, we might as well ruin ponify a greater game. If we create the stories and personalities to suit the ponies then there's a point, otherwise we're just ponifying a game.

Although this might work for other projects, certainly not ours which is largely story based.

[khaine21x3 789]

@@Fubz,

 

If you upload it on download sites based on certain countries, hasbro can't take them down either so they're basically powerless.

[Fubz 300]

Whoops read that slightly wrong :/ sorry a bit sleepy and it's difficult to see yours and reply on my tiny phone. Yeah it could work, but it would take a lot more work. We might take this route if we're wanting to play safe

[Prismatic 49]

I'm pretty sure if you live in the United States there are laws and so forth that go there (I don't know how far 'uploading it on a foreign site' will get one).  To be fair if it has a chance of either violating copyright or more importantly looking bad on Hasbro's brand (how I felt about why Fighting is Magic was shut down) I would probably contact their legal and maybe check up with things on a continual basis.