I''m currently making a war game. It''s an commercial product. How, can i protect my program ? Can/must i copyright the code , the idea ..etc. The idea of the game is general. A simulation. Does any one copyrighted a simulation game/idea ? Let''s say i am using real planes, choppers , weapons... Must i contact the plane/weapon/coke/T-shirt manufacturer before model/using it in the game ? I think and i hope, that the answers of all these questions are very simple .... a clear NO ? I really hate (c) stuff, but if the rest of the software community is using it in general ...better to follow (maybe).
The Aero Section : http://fly.to/TheAeroSection/
The Aero Section is a large military aircraft photo gallery.

First of all, good luck with your game! Developing a commercial product is never easy, unfortunately...

You will definitely have to be granted permission to feature any brand name products, or in your case, airplanes in your game. It won''t be easy to actually get a significant response from any of these companies unless you are some development giant.

You''re not going to want to copyright the game idea unless there is something very unique in your game that you are scared of sharing with others. It will also be very tough to copyright an idea, although I''m not sure exactly what''s invloved. As for copyrighting code, ask yourself first if anyone will even be able to access your code. Probably not unless you make it available. The only things that you would want to copyright are the actual completed game product, artwork, and maybe even sounds.

AS far as I know, you are automatically protected by international copyright laws when you produce virtually anything, however you won''t be able to claim money for any damage done by copies of your work. You will only be able to stop the copying. Please, feel free to correct me if I''m wrong, as I am no expert at law.

I hope this helped a bit.


Thank you,
Alexander McAndrew
mcanda@pcgamesforyou.com
http://www.pcgamesforyou.com

It gives me a general idea.

I am very disappointed that i must ask for permission for any brand name that appears in my game.

I hope that we can see an legal expert in this forum .... to be sure :-/

Thanks


The Aero Section : http://fly.to/TheAeroSection/
The Aero Section is a large military aircraft photo gallery.

Edited by - dataman on December 14, 2000 7:26:02 PM

I''m not a lawyer or legal advisor, but I''m certain that alex is correct, concerning the inclusions of brand names, etc. in your game. You will need written permission at the very least to ensure you are protected from a law suit.



Graham Rhodes
Senior Scientist
Applied Research Associates, Inc.

Thank you for the confirmation.

Do you think, that is difficult to obtain this permission?
Ex. I use in the game M16 assault rifle (wol ...for the AK47 will be difficult), so i need to contact Colt, i think. (they''ll be glad for the
promotion/publicity?).
Can i simply rename the gun, let''s say ... N-16 ...for the time the authorization arrive ...or maybe forever?

How to deal with old weapons / planes ...let''s say ...from WWII?

Oh ..i really want to avoid spending money on lawyers ....but it doesn''t seem to be so evident.




The Aero Section : http://fly.to/TheAeroSection/
The Aero Section is a large military aircraft photo gallery.

OK ...Can you tell me/us the steps to follow, to make sure(almost), that i am not sued by anyone and that no one, ever, thinks to rip/copy my
software ( no one = any software company ..ala Micro$oft)

Thank you.



The Aero Section : http://fly.to/TheAeroSection/
The Aero Section is a large military aircraft photo gallery.

Hmm ..yes...but you forgot something ..no ?
The address !!!

Thanks.


The Aero Section : http://fly.to/TheAeroSection/
The Aero Section is a large military aircraft photo gallery.

Try this book

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873374940/qid=977190049/sr=1-2/107-4966412-8838903

it answers all your questions and more

Mike :-)