Legal Issues

[DarknessX]

Hey guys. I just wanted to know from all you experienced game makers out there, what legal issues should I watch out for in general? I plan on selling my game, but graphics, audio, and coding will all be original, and made by my team...

[Traveler]

Can't say I have much experience in this area, but I'm pretty sure that with the (somewhat limited) description you've given us, you're safe.

If everything is made by yourself or your team, how come you think there's going to be any problems?
Because, unless you've based material from your game to an extended degree, on already existing material in other games, I doubt anyone is going to create a legal case against you.

[Ñuño Martínez]

May be you should check for limitations in different countries about subjects and symbols, logos, monuments, etc. For example, in Germany you can't use symbols, music or text from Nazism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism). In Spain you would have problems if your game have shoots from some national monuments without permission since they're copyrighted or because "national security".

[DarknessX]

Well, no problems there as the whole world will be made up. :)

Hmmmm, seems I'm pretty safe then.

Thanks, guys.

[Huehnerschaender]

Don't:

- steal registered game ideas
- steal graphics
- steal music
- steal logos
- use registered figures (like Mario, Spiderman, etc)

I think if you keep all this in mind you are more than safe :)

[jasonf]

There's one issue to do with certification.. I'm not entiredly sure how it works globally...

But if your game is a porn/murder/torture of bunnies & puppies game, you won't be able to sell it in certain countries.

If you don't want to risk it, keep the content as squeaky clean as possible.

[Angelo]

And make sure you license all your own stuff, so others can not use your work.

Another question, how were you planning to sell your game?

[edit]
I almost forgot this, make sure you do not advertise for anything you haven't permission for...

[DarknessX]

Not really sure how I'm going to sell it, probably on my website using an e-commerce php software.

All graphics & music will be made by my team... No characters will be stolen...

No game ideas will be stolen, unless building an RPG with classical RPG ideas is stealing a game idea...