To begin, I’m working on a fighting game where one of the choose-able characters is Steve from Minecraft. I’m planning on adding a building and inventory system to it that resembles actual Minecraft just for fun.
I was wondering if, (even if I change the textures of blocks and items) can I get in trouble for this due to copyright? And if so, what exactly IS the copyrighted item and how would it effect me? A warn? Ban? Simply the specific game taken down? Etc.
I see other minecraft clones getting taken down all the time, but it always looks like an instant ban. So if I made a mini-minecraft inside my fighting game, would it effect copyright? Or by using different textures would it be fine?
(I never get into copyright often so in your replies feel free to talk to me like I’ve never even heard of a copyright.)
Copyright things are a problem, you either have 2 options: Making the character free and not related to payments, or making something paid related to it, but change the name and the texture, so it could camuflate more, just be careful, and try to let your imagination help you as much as possible.
Thats all I can help with, hope this helps you at least a bit!
online textures could be copy righted even if fan made. As long as your game isn’t paid or has a payment related to the character you could dodge this kind of problems.
Maybe, but i can’t confirm it. You know, games like shindo life (Actual name) was copyrighted and i think that game has payment things. Im not an expert on copyright things of roblox but this is what i know.
If you implement this without evidence of permission from Microsoft to do so, it would be within their rights to contact Roblox and request for your game to be taken down. In some instances this involves a simple DMCA notice, whereas in other instances I’ve seen across the forum, games have been instantly locked - their assets made completely inaccessible, and the creators’ accounts moderated.
Adding Steve would be a direct copyright infringement because his design and appearance was created and is owned by Microsoft. Microsoft, however, do not own the rights to all blocky characters, but they own the rights to the character Steve.
Whether you would profit from Microsoft’s IP or not is irrelevant; it would still be within their power to have your game taken down should you use their work without permission.
If a typical player can look at something in your game and recognise it from Minecraft, or if your game closely resembles Minecraft, you probably shouldn’t add it. It’s often better to use your own unique creations anyway, rather than taking too many ideas from elsewhere.
Just went through some digging on copyright stuff for Mojang and other legal mumbo jumbo, and found out that anyone can create a minecraft clone, as long as the code isin’t taken from minecraft itself, and the assets, whether textures, audio, etc, are not from minecraft either.
In other words, code most be original, and all assets related must be original. You also can’t use the name “Minecraft”.
Still have no idea if texture packs count as “Minecraft assets” as there technically not owned by Mojang but who knows. If I had to make textures by hand It would take 2 years.
No, you are not allowed to use intellectual property from other games in your games without written permission from the IP owner, and if you do your game may be taken down by the IP owner.
Also in the past Minecraft was on the list of prohibited IPs that Roblox would actively ban from the site, although I’m not sure if that is still in effect.