I am thinking of making a map that is very similiar to an IRL location, so much that I want to make very similiar buildings. What I want to ask is: How much do I need to change? Do I need to simply change the number of windows on a house? Do I need to change the design of the windows? The shape of the roof? What about the terrain? Do I need to drastically change the locations of houses, etc?
I think if you avoid copyright landmarks, you’ll be ok. I know New York City tried suing Rockstar for their GTA Liberty City game… not sure what ever came of that. But normally a building isn’t covered by copyright.
I think so long as you don’t show real world ads you should be okay.
There was a lawsuit a while ago where a small movie studio wanted to shoot a scene in Time Square and called up the respective ad holders to ask for permission, they asked for money, he said no and just replaced the ads with fictional ones, then the SOBs turned around and sued the studio anyway. I really wish I could remember more of the details (if someone knows what I’m talking about please chime in).
Anyway, I’m fairly certain there are laws that protect artists from getting sued over displaying real life locations. It’s when you show ads, name brands, and company logos that you get into trouble.
Personally I think it’s BS, if a company pays billions to shove their crap in our faces at all times, the least we should be allowed to do is depict that reality in our art.
Some buildings or locations - especially famous ones - will be copyrighted by the architect/architectural firm that designed them. Names, too.
So yeah, you could end up having to change quite a bit. You’ll want a representative or replacement version in order to be safe from suing. Better safe than sorry.
I’d say avoid direct copying but you can take heavy inspiration.
Ultimately I’d decide whether or not it’s the layout of the building or the look of the building you like the most. If it’s the layout, then keep the layout the same but change the look. Perhaps steal the general look from another building you like and frankenstein the two. If you like the look of the building, then just change the layout significantly. Honestly you should probably change the layout quite a bit anyway, you’re making a game, not copying reality. Chances are changing the layout will make the level flow better.
If you are copying the look, though, I’d still change some small things to make it your own and avoid copyright. Get a bit creative.
I could give more specific advice if you mentioned what building (if its a famous building, if its a building in your town or something I can understand why you want privacy) and how this building is going to be used in your game. Will you mostly see the outside, the inside, or both? What genre or perspective is your game.
I don’t know. As a filmmaker, however, you are allowed to film anywhere. I was doing a time-lapse of a busy city street, and some officer told me to put my camera up. He called someone and realized that he couldn’t do a thing. Don’t know if this applies to Game making, though.
This isn’t true at all. Loads of cities require film permits and as a filmmaker you should know that.
Hello Marigold, check out this article I found. Something similar happened here. Film permits aren’t for everything. Look: http://philipbloom.net/2009/04/14/filming-in-public-places/
Film permits are mostly for things like action scenes where you would have to clear out an area.
I guess you didn’t read the whole thing.
In most parts of Canada and many major cities in the US, you do need a permit. That article you linked? Yeah, it wasn’t even for America. It was for the UK.
As a former filmmaker, I know you cannot film anywhere you want if you plan to make money with it, you have to be careful.
There’s a bunch of info regarding shooting stock footage/photos of landmarks. Here’s a quote from a page I just googled.
Not 100% sure it applies to video games, but I’d take a guess that it does.
As for the Philip Bloom link, yeah we don’t need permits here in the UK to film, but we can still get sued.
Sorry about that, you’re right. If you are doing commercial things as well as some more stuff, then you need a permit. Sorry.