Hi all,
Does anyone know what copyright license the images of the help file on the CD have? I'm talking about those unit shots.
I assume they are still protected by Microsoft but I kinda hoped that due to the fact that UA is getting pretty old the license would have 'disolved' by now.
I would use it in a prototype card game (see this topic : viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1343). The company who prints this only accepts art that can be used for 'commercial' use (although its not my intention to make money out of it). They already printed some prototypes but the last time they catched me so I'm not risking any legal problems anymore...
Copyright issues...
Copyright issues...
You either taste, feel, and smell the intoxication of freedom and revolt, or sink into the miasma of despair and apathy. You are either a rebel or a slave. - Chris Hedges
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pete_kaboom
- Turantul 1 (Veteran)
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:18 am
- Location: Down Under
Re: Copyright issues...
Typically, most copyright licences last for 70 years after publication, depending on the location (I think US is a bit different, so may need to do some research into it). Even for computer applications & games, which generally have a much shorter shelf-life compared to other creative works, such as books, films, etc. Due to this, chances are Urban Assault is still under copyright.
However, Urban Assault is considered abandonware due to its age, but since Microsoft still owns the right to the Urban Assault IP (Intellectual Property), they can send a cease-and-desist letter or file a lawsuit if it's infringed, although both are highly unlikely since you are not a business and/or planning to profit off it (and especially since the IP is very old by technology standard, so MS probably won't care).
Strangely though, Microsoft's Urban Assault webpage is no longer up. Whether if it's because they're getting rid of unused websites or because they no longer hold the IP is uncertain. Could be that Chaotic Realm Studios LLC (This guy: dragonfire967) now holds it, we don't know. The UA trademark registered by Microsoft is dead as well due to not being renewed.
Links:
Question about copyrighted images, specifically - video game images: https://www.etsy.com/au/teams/7718/ques ... s/6220657/
What Is Abandonware & Is It Legal?: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-ab ... -it-legal/
Use of Microsoft Copyrighted Content: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/in ... fault.aspx
Search for MS UA's dead trademark here: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe? ... h&p_d=trmk
However, Urban Assault is considered abandonware due to its age, but since Microsoft still owns the right to the Urban Assault IP (Intellectual Property), they can send a cease-and-desist letter or file a lawsuit if it's infringed, although both are highly unlikely since you are not a business and/or planning to profit off it (and especially since the IP is very old by technology standard, so MS probably won't care).
Strangely though, Microsoft's Urban Assault webpage is no longer up. Whether if it's because they're getting rid of unused websites or because they no longer hold the IP is uncertain. Could be that Chaotic Realm Studios LLC (This guy: dragonfire967) now holds it, we don't know. The UA trademark registered by Microsoft is dead as well due to not being renewed.
Links:
Question about copyrighted images, specifically - video game images: https://www.etsy.com/au/teams/7718/ques ... s/6220657/
What Is Abandonware & Is It Legal?: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-ab ... -it-legal/
Use of Microsoft Copyrighted Content: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/in ... fault.aspx
Search for MS UA's dead trademark here: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe? ... h&p_d=trmk