I’m interested is there any gun name I can use without having to buy expensive licenses for my game just to have that one gun have the right name. And also can you get away for having a just a one letter removed or change?
And then I wanna know the difference between commerical and non-commerical? This might seem like a dumb question because it sounds kind of self explanitory but I can’t find anywhere what makes something commerical or non-commerical so I just wanna know.
Ok but one more thing.
What if you use a model that looks exactly like some kind of real gun even if it is renamed. Can they still do something to you?
Well obviously it wouldn’t look EXACTLY the same but you know i’m curious.
If you’re in the US, well, then it depends on what state your’re in. The truth is in the US anyone can sue anyone for anything, whether they win or not is something else, but they can get a lawsuit if they really want one. It’s hard to imagine a gun manufacturer learning about their gun’s involvement in an indie game, much less the desire to go through the arduous process of litigation to prevent it.
In order to win a trademark lawsuit, the plaintiff has to prove that your using of their weapon design is taking customers away from them, which is impossible, since you’re making a video game and not a firearm.
If you keep the design of the model relatively basic, that is, not going super accurate with placement of the bolt, positioning of the magazine, size and shape of the stock, etc. Then you shouldn’t run into any issues. People sell assets all the time that are complete copies of real-world weapons and they don’t get any trouble.
As for the name, however, that one’s a bit different. I’d say go Kojima and just use a random assortment of letters and numbers.
Having something look too similar is indeed infringement. GTA gets around vehicles by restyling them and renaming them. It is common for AAA to not want to license something too.
Ok good to know but what if you are not in US? Do you have less chance of getting trouble or something. Because im not in Europe. Rules must be a bit different right?
That is the right thing to do, but expect to pay for the rights unless you can prove some other benefit for them. And that is only fair. If someone want to use someone else’s product in their game, it is because they will get some benefit from it. So the creator of that product deserves their share.
But how much do you really gain from using someone’s IP? It is better to make your own.
There was something about EA and DICE talking to gun manufacturers about using the names and likenesses of their products in games just a few years ago. I’m no legal expert but you can look at it like they did: games, at least shooters are free advertising for their weapons, and its a really expensive and tough thing to litigate every game or movie which shows an AK-47 or Walther P-22. It helps get the name of the gun out there, at the very least. Games have to be fun so they may not “perform” like in reality and tbh its bit sick to want that, and I don’t know anyone apart from a Youtube star who became a gun enthusiast after playing Battlefield or Call of Duty. I’m not even sure if that Youtuber even had a prior interest…
Oh and about EA, as it turns out for a few years game companies were actually paying small royalties to these companies of which they used their product out of the exact same concern. EA took some of them to court to say “Hey, we shouldn’t/don’t have to pay you guys to use your product in our games” and the gun companies really didn’t give a shit and just rolled over from what I’ve heard lol, legal stuff is bizarre sometimes!
Of course it depends on where you are located (I think US law is the way ‘to go’ when planning things?), and how designs / names are patented, trademarked, …uhh in the end you can never be really sure and it all depends on how things develop.
If a company wants to sue you, they will do so and no indie would risk a lawsuit with any big company?
I once planned to call my game TinyTurismo, but what if my game succeeds and Sony doesn’t like my choice? No. please. I wouldn’t risk it:face_with_spiral_eyes:
of course: No. Do not use real gun names.
chances are you target a stylized, low poly-ish art style ? something like Team fortress?
I just want to throw this in here, even it’s not a game about guns but cars / racing:
HorizonChase (i attached a screenshot) uses real cars but stylized this way, very few details, no badges / logos / brand names. I really think, something like this is the limit…
To be fair, I’ve never heard of a company being sued for using another companies likeness in their game or even a movie! My example with EA was quite the opposite, EA was suing the gun manufacturer’s for the right to use those likenesses!
i think its dumb as hell
cause like when i was a kid not knowing anything about guns … … … LOL
i actually thought goldeneye’s guns names were actual gun names… …
i mean … misinformation anyone? how is that not important?
< stupid greedy lawmaking suits are dumb as hell…
i mean … ANY object existing in the real world should be able to be reproduced in art medium, for the sake of knowledge and consistency …
but nooo money doesnt always care about knowledge… pfffttt thats why if youre an intellectual you shouldnt care about money (lols) … ( i mean people that care about money, business (as in,like how to scam the system like they do, etc)
PP7 is supposed to be a Walther PPK (Bond’s gun was 7.65mm), however even though the films were licensed to use the gun, the game was not. The DD44 was most likely a .44 caliber Desert Eagle, and the KF7 was an AK-47, the ZMG was an UZI. So, as you can see, without having the proper licensing it is best to just avoid the issue.
There is still nothing wrong with “9MM Pistol” or “Magnum”.
A little creativity won’t hurt you, you could even (egad) make up fictional guns and companies within your world.
Well, there’s your problem right there. You’re looking for knowledge and consistency in a video game. There are plenty of non fiction books and magazines dedicated to firearms. Try one of those for your knowledge and consistency.
I tried to not care about money, but then I got hungry and had to pay my bills.
