[Dysko]

I don't know if this is the right board to ask this, if it's not please move.

Mobius told me that we should make squadron logos for Steadfast based upon Ace Combat's squadron logos. If I do that, do we risk something like copyright infringements and so on?

[IPAndrews]

You know the answer to that, but I'll give you the answer you want to hear. Absolutely not.

[Bob-san]

What is it... 22% change before it's infringing?

Just like you can redo the face of Leonardo's Mona Lisa without breaking copyright laws (anything less then 22% = breaking law, anything more then 22% is NOT breaking laws)

[IPAndrews]

Where did you get 22% from? Not doubting just fascinated.

[Mobius]

He is talking about the Mobius Squadron' F-22 from Ace Combat

Now Schwarze,Rot,Schnee,Gault,Silber,Grun,Indigo,Espada,Sorcerer,Wizard,Razgriz and of course Mobius will start invading the FreeSpace universe!

[Bob-san]

I don't remember exactly where it was from... I think it's common ethics that such percent from the original is now a new thing... It's usually the judges who choose about this stuff.

[Mustang19]

Dysko, noone is going to sue us indie loosers at Hard Light. I can't tell you how much stuff I've plagiarised and seen other people plagarised, but really, you're not having even the remotest effect on the company's profits (and it wouldn't be such a bad thing if EA or Microsoft lost a ton of money, anyway). What's important is that noone here minds it. Don't be afraid of copying stuff from an old game.

[Mobius]

Uh Ace Combat Zero isn't old,I bought it the two months ago!

You're right. Me and Trashman use many names from Tolkien books without risks...I think it's the same with some squad logos...

[IPAndrews]

Big companies rarely fry little fish.

[Mobius]

So,in your opinion,there's a little chance of being accused?

[IPAndrews]

Legally speaking I don't have an opinion .

[Getter Robo G]

I was gonna tell him, "There is no gain without a little risk". But you ruined it now... 

[Mobius]

I think we should modify the logos a bit.

[karajorma]

I don't remember exactly where it was from... I think it's common ethics that such percent from the original is now a new thing... It's usually the judges who choose about this stuff.

I don't buy it. It completely invalidates the concept of a derivative work.

[Bob-san]

I am not sure... i seem to remember hearing it somewhere... but it was the face of some famous painting with many spoofs that was including in the entire thing i heard... it's like the little know facts that you have to either go spend 5 years of your life looking it up, pay some dude alotta money to look it up for you in like 10 minutes, or just go on memory about it...

I don't want to waste years of my life, i can't afford paying anybody anything, and so memory is my best bet.

It was either the mona lisa or the scream painting... or perhaps the one of the farmers... the husband with pitchfork and the wife...... i dont remember but all three are spoofed fairly often.

[Admiral Edivad]

I think we should modify the logos a bit.

Good idea. It shouldn't be that difficult.

[Nix]

Big companies rarely fry little fish.

Unless you're EA and shut down damn near every System Shock 2 mod/total conversion that you see on the 'net.  Be cautious.  Who knows what Namco can do. 

[Mustang19]

Why doesn't someone make a campaign where it's you vs. the Electronic Arts Empire? 

I'm surprised that noone has taken up the "evil corporation" theme yet for a Freespace campaign, considering what we all think of Microsoft and EA. Maybe I'll do it.