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Thread: licensing isues :|

  1. #1

    licensing isues :|

    me and my team have started to make an f1 sim (well were thinking of making it into a lemans game instead now :shock: ) and i emailed williamsf1 about if they can send over some blue prints of the 1993 car so we can make acuret modles. they had this to say :cry:

    ..."After consultation with our legal department I regret to say that I am not
    in a position to fulfil your request despite the fact you are not looking
    to charge your website visitors to download the cars or the game. The
    reason being that we are under contract with the FIA/FOM for using our
    image within interactive gaming along side other Formula One teams. We can
    not therefore appear to condone or support such projects.

    I trust you will understand our reasoning behind such a decision."

    so, if we take note of that and proceed making the f1 sim, but making the cars on our own. would i expect to be in court the next day/week the game is released (for free download)?

    im just interested in case i need to wake up my lawyers early :lol:


    (btw, yay for my first post :twisted: :roll: )

  2. #2

    licensing isues :|

    Well, that's not really a problem. Alter the geometry a tiny bit and change the textures slightly. Don't use real names but instead call "Williams" "Bill's" or whatever.
    You won't get a license unless you're able to pay tons of money for it.
    Ask me about the xcess game development kit

  3. #3

    licensing isues :|

    so without paying loads of money i cant put the real names in? even if its a free game :shock:

    damn

  4. #4

    licensing isues :|

    If I'm correct(but I may be wrong), you can just use the names and stuff anyway, as long as you say it is a parody on the real thing, and not chrage money for it. At least, that's how I think it works, but you'd better seek some more professional advice if you really want the names...
    -Sander

  5. #5
    Co-Founder / PGD Elder WILL's Avatar
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    licensing isues :|

    Or, you could just list all the labels on your cars and see if they'll sponsor you.
    Jason McMillen
    Pascal Game Development
    Co-Founder





  6. #6
    Legendary Member cairnswm's Avatar
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    licensing isues :|

    As I understand the issues with licensing is that you can use the names, pictures etc as long as you clearly say that the game IS NOT endoresed by the FIA/Williams etc.
    William Cairns
    My Games: http://www.cairnsgames.co.za (Currently very inactive)
    MyOnline Games: http://TheGameDeveloper.co.za (Currently very inactive)

  7. #7

    licensing isues :|

    Quote Originally Posted by cairnswm
    As I understand the issues with licensing is that you can use the names, pictures etc as long as you clearly say that the game IS NOT endoresed by the FIA/Williams etc.
    that is not the case and you can get in serious trouble if you use the names without permission.
    Ask me about the xcess game development kit

  8. #8

    licensing isues :|

    Perhaps you should read nehe's recent problems (start reading from post 06-16-2003) about his zelda remake. A couple days ago the IDSA filed a complaint about this remake. It's now removed...

  9. #9

    licensing isues :|

    hmm, my teams ditched f1 anyway now and working on a alms/lemans sim

    heres that emails....

    Dear Jon,

    All I question of interpretation I think. Within an F1, racing enviroment
    it would be in my opinion quite clear that it is a play off our IP so it
    would really be a question for our company lawyer as to whether it would
    stand up in court or not. We would certainly take a dim view on such a
    product.

    We trademark all the cars livery (paint designs) and car shapes whilst the
    helmet designs are the property of the respective drivers so there may well
    be the risk of litigation from them also.

    I hope this is of some help.

    Kind regards,

    Simon Forester
    WilliamsF1



    --- Original message ---
    From: xxx
    Date: 17/06/2003 19:56:16
    To: xxx
    Cc:
    Subject: Re:


    Dear Simon,

    Thank you for the reply. I understand the reasons behind the decision.
    However i have one question for the future.

    That is, what are the limits for an unlicenced freeware game? are they
    allowed to have the graphics of the real life part but not the names?

    eg. call, williamsf1 something like lillians1f

    and what are the results of develeping an unlicenced freeware game with the
    full team names and graphics.

    Thank you for your time.

    Jon Walton

  10. #10

    licensing isues :|

    You can actually see the small dollar signs in that guy's eyes if you look closely. :x

    Good luck with your new choice of game, assuming you don't fall afoul of the same problem. Also, I would like to state for the record that F1 is pretty dull versus other motorsports, and that people only watch it for the (too rare) crashes. Le Mans should be more interesting methinks.
    "All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."
    <br />-- Aristotle

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