Are games with ripped resources still allowed?

[Mr. Detective]

Are we still allowed to post games with ripped resources (fan games or not) on this forum? Last time I saw a game with DBZ characters was a few years ago. I know the rules say we can't discuss ripped resources and games with them will be taken down if asked. Does that mean as long as no one asks for these games to be taken down, they can be posted? I'm not making a fan game, but the game I'm working on will have voices ripped from another game, and a bunch of pictures from google images.

"OMG! THEFT!" Yeah, sure. Guilty as charged.

I just want to make a game for fun and get some experience, not for profit or anything. I don't care if some people are over the top about ripped resources. Just not sure if I can post it here or not.

 

[ShadowDragon]

Every games that uses Graphics from orginal games outside RPGXP through RPGMZ
are not allowed to usem unless stated otherwise.

Ripped resourches are illegal in any way (ripping alone is illegal).

However, it can only be used for personal use, and not shareable on any site.
use original or created by the community only.

 

[EpicFILE]

I'm not making a fan game, but the game I'm working on will have voices ripped from another game, and a bunch of pictures from google images.

The way you worded it, I think you're talking about easter eggs?
I don't know the rules about adding those resources as easter eggs,
so I can't say much about it.

But if you mean you're gonna use them as integral parts of the game,
I think it's not allowed.

 

[Mr. Detective]

@ShadowDragon I'm aware of what's legal and illegal. Not like anyone is gonna go after me for this. That's not what I am concerned about.

However, it can only be used for personal use, and not shareable on any site.

Even this rule varies from site to site. Nevertheless, I'm not asking for illegal resources here.

@EpicFILE Easter eggs and game mechanics as well. Say, I have a food item named "ramen", and I want to use a picture of a ramen bowl from Google. Or I have a computer in a library, and I want to put a picture of a character from another game or anime on it, so it looks like a wallpaper.

It's not the legal matters I'm concerned about. It's whether a game like that can be posted here anymore.

 

[Shaz]

Allow me to direct you to the Forum Rules where you can read about it yourself, rather than getting other people's opinions (which may or may not be correct).

2.3 We do not support use of ripped materials (those taken from someone else's game - especially, but not limited to, commercial games). Do not ask for ripped resources or for help with ripping resources. Do not post them in your own thread or in response to a request. Do not ask for help with formatting ripped resources or for any other assistance getting them working in your game. If you post a game or demo here using ripped resources, we will remove your game if requested by the copyright owner.

You cannot request ripped resources
You cannot request help to rip resources
You cannot share ripped resources in a thread
You cannot share ripped resources if someone else asks for them
You cannot ask for help to use ripped resources

This rule does not say you cannot post a game here if it uses ripped resources. But if the owner finds out and asks for your game to be removed, it will be, without question.


Re your comment about making games for fun, "not for profit or anything" - whether it's for profit or fun makes no difference at all, in whether it's allowed or not, or whether you should or not.

 

[Oddball]

I suggest reading up on copyright law. There are ways you can use a copyrighted thing and it be considered fair use. but that's a grey area of law, and i suggest reaserching it THROUGHLY

 

[Andar]

There are ways you can use a copyrighted thing and it be considered fair use. but that's a grey area of law

not exactly - fair use is highly defined, and most of the fair uses cannot apply to making games (it may be grey if you had other purposes)

the only exception where fair use functions for games is parody.
IF your game is a parody of something, then you can use that something legally.

unfortunately most fangames are not willing to make a parody of what they are a fan of...

 

[stramin]

What about "tributes"?

Can anyone use some art telling the game is explicitly a tribute? (and non-commercial).

Like when a tribute music bands plays in a club, they don't have permission from the original band, but they are accepted because they are "explicitly" a tribute.

 

[Andar]

@stramin no, for a lot of reasons.
first, even that tribute is not legal unless they have the permission to create cover version of that song and pay licence fees toward the composer of the song (the original artist only matters if he is the composer as well)
that those bands can continue is the same reason that games with ripped resources are only taken down if the developer either tells that or the original IP holder sends a message: ONLY the copyright holder can initiate a copyright claim. even if the police is in that music club and told that the band has no licence, they are not allowed to interfere unless the original IP holder tells then to do this.
But that does not make a tribute or cover version legal.

and the same goes for anything else. it doesn't matter if you get money or not, if you credit the original or not, if you tell how much you like the original IP holder or not - if you do not have a licence for using something, then your use is illegal. It's just that until the original IP holder is informed of yourr piece's existance AND orders someone to take your work down that no one else can do anything against you.

 

[Oddball]

You could do something like replace mickey mouses head with a cup... oh wait, someone already did that