I have car assets that don’t specifically say any make or model but they are based off real cars. I want to name them in my game. Can I use existing car names, makes and models that they are obviously modelled from?
Thanks
No. Most video games have fake car names, makes and models for a very simple reason. Unless you have permission from the manufacturer(s), and it’s very difficult to obtain said permission, you’re not allowed to use them.
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Its also quite limiting if you do obtain permission. Many car manufacturers won’t let you show their car being damaged or performing badly or associated with crime or … you get the idea.
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But VW shouldn’t have a problem with your particle diesel smoke
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If this is a brand name, namely a brand, then it is not worth it, because they have rights to these names. If you do not want problems, call BVM instead of BMW, everyone will understand everything and there will be no problems.
Beyond just naming, the shape and design of the car is also intellectual property of each automobile company… so just as you can be sued for using the name of a known car without permission, you can also be sued for using the specific likeness of a car as well. It’s not likely to happen unless your project becomes well known and or rich, but when and if you do get sued, you will lose.
Generic unrecognizable cars are the way to go.
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Well GTA have likeness to many cars
Likeness, but not exact likenesses in any actionable means.
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Right, which is why I said “specific likeness”.
Well, its pretty clear which car is a BMW etc. But yeah, as I recall it they dont have that specific BMW grill in GTA
Removing signature design cues for a manufacturer are important for avoiding problems. For BMW that includes the Kidney Grille and Hofmeister Kink. Doing such things as mixing together BMW, Audi, and Mercedes to create a German saloon goes another step safer.
Its also not always game developers that gain from using real world brands, the brands also use it for PR. 
The differences between guns and cars and how their representation in games work are ridiculously huge.
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What is the difference? I know a developer I was working for looked at using various weapons, and all the manufacturers were highly protective.
Main difference is, so cars manufactures don’t want to have bad names on cars, since these are mainly used for transport and should be associated with good purpose, while ensuring promotion of ‘correct’ features, capabilities and performance. Not for hate speech, crashing, or driving over others etc.
While weapons, are used mainly, to go against some societies. Primarily to kill. So how weapon can be shown in worse light, than main its purpose to kill? By giving them rainbow colors in game?
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For some crazy insane reason, GTA games don’t use real car names. I wonder why. Surely this magically means tiny one man indies suddenly get permission.
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Arma3 set it’s entire campaign and setting in a make believe near “future” and designed all it’s own custom weapons and vehicles to get around such licensing issues.
Outside of rigorous simulation games, there are no real situations in most games where guns will not be operating at anything less than peak performance. Gameplay itself is an effective marketing tool, which is why you’ll have some companies that have entire divisions of their licensing departments dedicated entirely to games.
The chances of getting permission these days is 0, and very, very tightly controlled even for AAA because in an age where everyone is moving to self driving cars, the last thing anyone wants is the slightest negative connection to their brand.
Weapons companies want to be more associated with sport than mass shootings of innocent civilians. They can be shown in a worse light.