Game content, and it's usage in other games

[Solokiller]

More and more is content of one game used in another without permission, sometimes resulting in a cease and desist order. What does everybody think about this situation?
The most common example these days is the community of Garry's mod, that has published numerous rars and zips filled with content from games like Halo 2.

[intooblivion]

It's not like they're playing the actual halo game in garry's mod, they just made a model that looks like it. Will they start suing people that dress up in a homemade moljinir suit just because it wasn't made by bungee?

[Manbearpig]

Bungie is just trying to find a new income because they ended Halo.

[Swedish Elite]

It's Bungie People.

[Kester]

Before you go on about how Bungie are out of order, do some research on trademark and copyright laws.

[Manbearpig]

True, but I still think they are overeacting. I mean, just because some guy is using a couple of Halo models for sex poses or something, doesn't mean people will stop buyinh Halo.

[Kester]

It has nothing to do with people not buying Halo. Seriously, this debate is stupid unless you have at least a basic understanding of copyright, and trademark laws.

[Manbearpig]

Yes I know that this is more a battle over Bungie's intelectual property and they are doing this because they don't want people abusing something they invented as they feel the possibility that it will lead to people making entirely new games using their copyrighted characters and/or name. I merely stated that as a derogitory remark towards Bungie as (Even though these are copyrighted characters) I feel that they are going to start a trend that will limit gmod modders from making such skins. I'm worried that the people who made Bioshock will strick next, then Pepsi and Coca-Cola will stike against the soda skins etc.

[jambo]

They won't start a trend, companies have been going after people who abuse copyright and trademark laws in relation to IP for years.

[Manbearpig]

I don't know, it just seem that the public domain has died and all forms of art have been replaced with a price tag. Did you know UPS copyrighted the colour brown? Did you know the happy birthday song has been copyrighted and someone was actually sued over it?

[Brendon]

I don't know, it just seem that the public domain has died and all forms of art have been replaced with a price tag. Did you know UPS copyrighted the colour brown? Did you know the happy birthday song has been copyrighted and someone was actually sued over it?


JK Rowling is suing someone because they wanted to write a lexicon/companion guide to the HP novels with information on things.

The fact of the matter is, copyright itself is tricky, and intellectual property is even trickier. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't, but whatever sticks in court holds true regardless.

[MaxTheLimit]

Personally I feel any one should have the right to defend their intellectual property. You cannot simply ignore issues like this, because if you give full reign to others to user your ideas and creations you stand to lose everything while other parties stand to gain off of your accomplishments. Essentially they take no risk in creation simply use what's created to their own gain. These law exist for a reason, and while frivolous lawsuits are a smear of the legal system these laws need to be in place to protect artistic creations. It's not there to hurt people who create it's there to protect people. To be entirely fair I don't believe Garry's mod was in the right for using anything from halo 2 to be used on a mod of a competitors product. It's really not fair to those who put the work into the product to have it taken and used without going through the legal methods of acquisitions and use. someone may own something but reproductions and distribution of someone else's material unless consented SHOULD be illegal.

[Solokiller]

Halo 2 was just an example, just go to facepunch and you'll see other such content too. Facepunch is a breeding place for such things, a hub.

[Wasabi]

"That's the old passage to Facepunch Studios... We don't go there anymore. Used to be that that tunnel lead right up into Facepunch. *breath intake* Believe me, that tunnel is sealed for a reason."

Amirite?