Apologies if this is the wrong place, no category seemed to fit.
For a game I’m working on, skins are a cosmetic option. we have a nice range currently but I’m curious on specifics.
Like, obviously you’re allowed to use Roblox created hats within games, but what about UGC? How about user-generated t-shirts or pants? Would it only be a matter of ethics or would it be obligatory to commission every shirt instead of using one from the catalog, even if it’s as simple as a clown costume?
As a quick side note, what about intellectual property? Could I use a stormtrooper costume (with a helmet created by Roblox) or would that technically be a violation, even if it’s one that wouldn’t be picked up?
Anything made by Roblox that isn’t for a sponsorship event is typically fair game for being used. You may otherwise encounter complications when using items from sponsor events, such as the Stormtrooper Helmet. Roblox has permission to create a Star Wars hat asset: you do not have that same permission to use it for a game.
To put things into perspective, this is a sponsor item I found in my inventory:
Originally, this was an item from a sponsor event. For the sake of complying with licensing and all, the original item as overwritten with a trophy and you’ll notice that it doesn’t make any specific mentions, only that it was a trophy of participation in a 2014 event. I think this was a Hot Wheels event.
As far as UGC goes, it’s a bit of a slope to attend to. I do believe that you can use UGC items from the catalog, but it’d be on the safer side to attribute and on an even safer side to ask for permission to use, as per standard IP regulations (and ethics). You definitely aren’t obligated to commission though.
Legally, what’s the destination between a player owning the storm trooper helmet and joining a game with no custom avatar vs a player joining and unlocking the helmet to wear in a game with a custom avatar feature?
Roblox creates the hat with permission which you can wear on games supporting normal avatars after purchasing it. All management of the asset and sales go to Roblox and in exchange, you can wear the hat. You only wear the hat in this case.
Putting the asset as an unlockable in your game means you are responsible for the management of the asset, being that it is your game. You don’t have the same permission to use the asset for any intent or purpose: Roblox selling it != You can also sell it or add it as an accessory for the player. You do more than just wear the hat in this scenario, which is to use it for a feature in your game.
The destination is pretty wide. IANAL though, I’m simply going off of what I do know. There could be a whole different opinion or side to this discussion.
I’m positive it’s not of concern and won’t be for a long time, a couple skins in an unrelated game is the last target with entire games based on starwars existing on the platform. I’m only interested from a moral standpoint, as well as a curious one.
I suppose I’ll stick with using catalog hats, shirts, pants etc without expressed permission (provided they’re generic & already reuploaded hundreds of times) until/if the game reaches a level where it’d matter to me. Beyond that I’d commission with a more than fair price, credit & probably resale profits too.
I guess so. The thing is that moderation does not make assumptions about whether you have permission to use certain IP or not and often will only intervene given a request. Takedowns happen when requests are put forth and settled. Presumably there is no request for Star Wars content takedowns, so those items may remain up until it can be proven that a developer does not have permission to use that IP.
Morals are fairly subjective, so I guess it all depends on how you interpret it. I’d honestly be the worst person to ask: I shamelessly use a lot of content that I don’t have permission for and that’s a pretty common thing on this platform. Just leaving that out there as food for thought.
From a moral standpoint, don’t know if this helps provide any insight, but I honestly just use anything I find and worry about the repercussions, ethics and such of my actions later. I don’t release anything anyway. I definitely hold more caution towards third party assets, otherwise if it’s on Roblox then I just assume fair use. I’ll use any shirts, pants, accessories and so on that are on the catalog or marked as public on the toolbox. I have use for UGC to integrate game features (e.g. owning Pal Hair gives you a discount on the bacon food item in the cafeteria).
