Copyright Question: Help for the Clueless

[archvilell]

Would I be infringing on Valve copyrights if I used everything that came with Hammer and put together a new game? It's a game from a Combine point of view. I call it The Uprising. I don't know much about copyrights (I read the post about copyrights at the top, but it only mentioned from one company to another).

So, in other words, is it legal if I make a mod of HL2 with their textures, models, etc., come up with a new logo and name?

If not, what do I have to do to make it legal? Would getting Valve permission be enough or do I have to get some legal documents filled out?

 

[The Dark Elf]

you can use anything in HL2, in whatever mod you want. providing you only use the source engine to do it, and that you don't sell it or claim it as your own.

You can't actually make a game, not legally, just a modification. Using HL2 resources is perfectly fine for that and encouraged. Just don't try use the stuff in something Valve doesn't own.

 

[archvilell]

Cool. Progress continues, heh heh.

 

[archvilell]

Another question, how close can I come to the HL2 story line without infringing on copyrights? Can I have my character attempt to catch Gordon Freeman and follow in his wake, hoping to gain on him? Or do I have to have some other tpye of resistance leader?

 

[Angry Lawyer]

You can have your characters eat the face of Gordon Freeman, and Valve won't especially care. You're modding their game, with their tools. It makes sense that what you make is based on their game.

Copyright issues based on Gearbox's 'Opposing Force' are another matter, as are those of the previous games. I've asked Valve about this, and they've forwarded it on to their lawyer guy, so I'll have an answer for this soon too.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[johnshafft]

the best way to think about a copyrights infringment is this a copy (or like) somebody else's idea (or work)? and am I using it without permission (even if theres no financial gain)? Then Im violating somebodys Intellictual Property and thus thier copyright.

That doesnt mean you can t be inspired by something you just cant copy a complete idea. As for the moding rights Valve allows certains rights in the EULA that say you can use the Games contents and ideas as long as you are not giving it away (HL2 mod for doom using hl2's tex and ideas) or trying to make money by stealing from them (selling textures that were directly ripped from the game)

 

[archvilell]

I emailed Valve about Opposing Force 2, and they said that I could do the mod, I just couldn't call it Opposing Force 2. I'm not sure if I could have the character be Adrian Shepard though. Either way, I've decided to create a new character, because I want to make it from a Combine point of view more than I do Adrian (that way I get to play with cooloer stuff. Face the Resistance only has scrap). My friend pointed out that the G-Man detained Adrian until his services were needed. Since he is a "civil servant" as the G-Man put it in OF, then he would side with the civilians, not the Combine. However, I thought that since the Marines could have been enveloped into the Combine's rule (all branches of military joined with Combine to form Civil Protection), thus making him a Combine (that was my original idea).

However, depending on what you hear from Valve's lawyer, AL, if I can use Adrian's name, I think I will and make the story my way as opposed to my friends. I really hated the ending of OF. I thought Adrian was just as cool as Gordon and should be at least promised something rather than an "If."

I don't know if I should post all my thoughts out so far, as I'm kinda worried about someone taking them. I know I couldn't do anything about, but it would still depress me that someone would rip off my idea.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Well, they don't want you to use the name 'Opposing force 2', because it stops them from making an 'Opposing Force 2', as unlikely as their making of it would be.
Adrian Shepherd, as far as I know, is usable, but I'm still waiting for Valve to get back to me.

Chances are, somebody's already had your idea. The challenge is to produce your results better than they can.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[archvilell]

Yeah that's true. Or just me produce it and they not feel like it. I've wanted to make a mod since I got done with Opposing Force, but never did because I did have any idea how to.

Thanks for checking with Valve though, AL.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

No problems - glad I can help a modder who's actually willing to get his hands dirty, rather than recruit other people to do it for them, and then sit there, doing nothing but 'providing ideas'.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[archvilell]

Hands dirty? I'm elbow to my armpits in stuff to do, heh heh heh. There's so much stuff; it's hard to decide sometimes what needs worked on more? I've got make all the maps (done putting everything in, needs lighting and scripts), I've got to make models do stuff (the suit, salute, and seated position), I've got to get the mod portion of it done (get a different background and title put on the menu), make different guns and code them... the list goes on and on.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Exactly. You're a one-man-mod team. You're taking steps to rise above today's low standards of modding.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Pesmerga]

I don't know if I should post all my thoughts out so far, as I'm kinda worried about someone taking them. I know I couldn't do anything about, but it would still depress me that someone would rip off my idea.

Oh I'm already jotting your idea on paper.

 

[archvilell]

Oh I'm already jotting your idea on paper.

Argh! No! lol