Mythology copyrights?

#1 I think the authors may have been dead for more than 50 years...

#2 It's all public-domain, unless I'm grossly informed as to copyright law (always a possibility).

#3 LOL.

Man, that is very funny.

Yes, you can use them. :) And you can rip off Shakespeare, too.

But not Robert Frost. :( >:( Damn Walt Disney legislation.

#4 I know common sense tells you those things must be in the public domain. Still, a popular band here in Mexico (yes i'm not from the USA :) used to use a picture of a little prehispanic dog, which AFAIK was taken from some ancient codex, in the covers of some of their albums and they credited our national history institution. If it was public domain, they wouldn't had to credit anybody right? (unless of course, they did it out of respect only), that's why I'm asking.

#5 If the book they took it from was more than 150 years old or so, they didn't have to credit it. Probably did it just so that people would know it was from a museum, and not just made up. In any case, the national history instiution probably didn't write it, so they aren't the right ones to credit anyway.

If, however, they took it from an artist's rendering (or possibly a photo, print or a restoration) that might be different.

#6 Thanks to all for your replies (this community is REALLY great!!). I know I may sound paranoic, but when you start dealing with (any) legal issues, I think you can never be too careful. I mean, it must be terrible to have someone sue you because of copyright infrigement after you have put all your heart and soul in a product, just because you didn't take the necessary precautions. You just can't afford to be naive or take anything for granted. Thanks again. I might post screenshots of my game in the following weeks. I hope you like it!

#7 a medusa was mentioned in NWN... =)
actually i'd love to see a game based on greek mythology. it would be a very interesting thing to play!

#8 Norse mythology all the way. :)

I can just imagine a game based on the multiple levels of the Norse hell.

#9 Been done. Rune.

#10 Something to take note in: though the original texts are in the public domain, translated works do fall under copyright (unless they have fallen beyond their legal lifespan). This goes for recorded works as well, so using a CD full of ancient greek dances may not be the best idea if it was published three years ago.

A number of fun games have been directly or indirectly inspired by various culture's mythos, and using the mythology present is completely different than using uncredited quotes from a copyrighted text.

#11 This is what happens when humans become IP-crazy. The fear of being sued overwhelms the need to create.

I am not giving my blessing to wholesale stealing of intellectual property. I think a more conservative outlook is needed.

...and apparently a GG Attorney. =/

--Eric

#12 Wonders if the Big publishers will actualy target GG developers, after reading the last 2 posts, even im getting paranoid. ://

#13 Miguel, check the top 5. It happened recently to a guy making a stargate game. No such thing as being "too paranoid" when dealing with legal issues.

#14 Hey Miguel!

Am from Mexico too! Nice to see you around man! And yes, this community IS Great indeed, for the most part B) Good luck with your game man B) did you use the Torque Engine? is there any demo or website? am interested!!

Greetings B)

#15 Jeremy, if you took that type of attitude with dating, you'd never get one... "I could go ask her, but there's the chance that she'll say no... and then, there's another chance her big boyfriend will bloody my nose."

...in other words, it IS possible to be too paranoid.

On the other side of the coin: It's usually not a wise move to walk up to a gal who's kissing on some big guy and ask her out.

--Eric

#16 Um, dude. Did you read the whole sentence or stop when you saw the word "paranoid"?

"No such thing as being "too paranoid" when dealing with legal issues."

Lemme show you what I'm talking about:

"...when dealing with legal issues."

See that? "legal issues" isn't some metaphor for dating or anything. I was being very specific here. Just saying Lawyers are animals and you should be careful. Just saying he had a valid question. To turn this around on you, if you had YOUR attitude in dating, women would be pissed off that you jump to conclusions so quickly about their "freind" Rico. (C:

#17 Sorry, I don't have a website for the time being, and no, I'm not using Torque. Had I found it when I was 22 it would have been my wish come true: getting great graphics with minimum programming effort (well, sort of :) but now, 5 years later I feel like showing off what I learned and use my own engine. The game itself could be described like "street fighter ex meets souledge/soulcalibur" That is, it is a 3d fighter with weapons with 2d controls. I know it may not be that original but I'm trying to compensate for that with great graphics and simple gameplay.

#18 *Thumps Jeremy on the head.*

'Dude', you had interjected yourself into a convo about IP rights, and I replied that it's possible to be too careful--even legally. Should you be careful? Of course. So careful that nothing ever gets made? No.

It's very disheartening to see game devs come on here and dispense legal advice like M&Ms, most of which act like they are the authority on the subject when in reality of course they aren't. Geeze people, at least use a little humility when you write such a thing.

And Jeremy, if the guy smooching on the girl is a "friend" (meaning sexual partner), you're still skirting the same edge as if he were a boyfriend--especially if he was wanting to hook up with her that night.

I'm just saying in my analogy it IS possible to be overcautious (never meet the girl/never make the game), but you also have to consider the current situation (the fella/IP rights).

I don't believe I just had to explain that. :-P

--Eric

#19 The image of the dog isn't copyrighted, but if the image used is the one from the instuation then the band needs to credit it.

Always cover yourself. :)

#20 It would be rather hard to trace origins and authors of the myths :) Many historians would be very pleased if lawyers could pull it off for them :)