Question about copyright.

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wetguy
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Question about copyright.

#1

Post by wetguy »

If you make a Theotown plugin inspired by a building or vehicle from another isometric game, even if it is an open source game like OpenTTD or Simutrans, is it considered copyright infringement?
Last edited by wetguy on 19 Feb 2018, 07:04, edited 1 time in total.

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wetguy
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Re: Question about copyright.

#2

Post by wetguy »

In fact, one of the default buildings is taken directly from Simutrans
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cesareborgia94
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Re: Question about copyright.

#3

Post by cesareborgia94 »

Yes, do not take or copy anything from OpenTTD and Simutrans, that is like stealing.

But there is an exception, if you make a replica by it by your own hands I think you can use it, because you only took inspiration from those games to make your own version of the building or vehicle from other games.

You can copy from OpenTTD or Simutrans, but don't take the building or vehicle graphics from there and include it in the Theotown, that would constitute a copyright infringement.
For this instance, take a building or vehicle example from OpenTTD and Simutrans, and try to build your own texture from that. Release your plugins and say that OpenTTD or Simutrans inspired your building or vehicles.

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cesareborgia94
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Re: Question about copyright.

#4

Post by cesareborgia94 »

wetguy wrote:
19 Feb 2018, 07:02
In fact, one of the default buildings is taken directly from Simutrans
Image
Theo was friends with one of the Simutrans developer (I forgot his name) so I think he probably asked for permission from him for the building.

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Wekabu city
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Re: Question about copyright.

#5

Post by Wekabu city »

OpenTTD license:
You can use aspects from the game, but it MUST be FREE!

May not be 100% accurate...

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malsa
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Re: Question about copyright.

#6

Post by malsa »

cesareborgia94 wrote:
19 Feb 2018, 07:08
wetguy wrote:
19 Feb 2018, 07:02
In fact, one of the default buildings is taken directly from Simutrans
Image
Theo was friends with one of the Simutrans developer (I forgot his name) so I think he probably asked for permission from him for the building.
His name was A.Brose, he also come to this forum too

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Re: Question about copyright.

#7

Post by AvenJZR »

A.Brose knows about TheoTown. He is a friend of Theo's.

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theotheoderich
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Re: Question about copyright.

#8

Post by theotheoderich »

The building has been part of TheoTown since 2015 and was based on an older Simutrans building.

The building created by me is not directly copied from SimuTrans, but completely re-pixelated. It also contains much more details than the original building in SimuTrans.

I've never just copied buildings from other games!

All the buildings I've created for TheoTown have always been completely pixellated by myself.
For some Simutrans buildings, I also have permission from Alexander Brose to use them as a template for my own TheoTown buildings.
Attachments
Building1.PNG

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malsa
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Re: Question about copyright.

#9

Post by malsa »

Thank You for the information
Also do you just know that this forum it already 10th year old and welcome back Theo :D

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Lobby
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Re: Question about copyright.

#10

Post by Lobby »

@KoalaGuy We once had a moderator who gone crazy and gave his account to a really infamous person who then deleted and modified some stuff. We're working on recovery.

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Re: Question about copyright.

#11

Post by wetguy »

I never wanted to actually directly copy a building from another game. I was just asking if it is copyright infringement if you make a building that is similar to a building from another game but highly edited. And by the way, I knew that Theo was friends with a guy who made graphics for Simutrans.

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Re: Question about copyright.

#12

Post by Barky »

As long as there is no obvious similarities (you can put them side by side and not see any bits directly copied) then it's okay, shape and all doesn't really matter if you modify it.

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