The Plan has Arrived
I am still learning and reading a lot but a few days ago we had an admin meeting for MWorlds (my mud) to write out the direction and the theme of the game.
As I am not too sure on the copyright laws and if they affect me, I am hoping for some feedback from folks here that would know better then I.
My main concern is that we have chosen The Golden Compass to be the Theme all be it loosely based on this story it will contain names and races from the story.
As the game is not open to the public yet coding continues.
I would hate to be doing all this work and find out I have stomped on toes and have to change the theme.
All and every comment has value to me. I'm not well versed in copyright, softcode or even being an admin on a mud but I have a vision of a world I created and folks can enjoy it.
Thank you in advance
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Depends
Copyright is tricky. Maybe you aren't derivative. Maybe you are, but can claim fair use. Maybe you can't, but you'll get permission from the copyright holders (or maybe you won't, and the relevant copyright owners won't notice or care.)
You may wish to check out this episode of Tinytalk:
http://community.pennmush.org/blog/javelin/2007/tinytalk-episode-006-copyright-fanfic-and-mush
Added Confusion
After listening to tinytalk I did a lot of reading, to define copyright it seems I will have to talk to Philip Pullman and his publisher if I want to use actual names and scenes "or not!" on the other hand there is the "concept" that is not copyright every day usage common items and events driven by the players not the book. The sidekick the airships the ships, magic alternate worlds "mana" "magic juice" "dust" "aura" the list goes on.
I am not ambitious enough to consult a solicitor just so I can have my game up and running.
Change the theme? No.
Stop the game maybe.
Creating a mud is an art? Is it original do I have copyright on the softcode that actually runs the game all be it a joint effort. The code itself is copied or emulations of other peoples code (functions, ideas, innovations) developed from others.
There is also the path the game will take that is an unknown until it actually has players to drive the story.
I am musing here. I try to imagine how much detail or lack of detail, diversion from the actual story will be enough to entertain the players so they will stay.
The idea of players having no skills and relying on there sidekick (soul) to actually defend them, relying on its skills and magic to help them survive daily life and them protecting their sidekick (soul) from dieing for they would end when it does. Concept not the book.
My musing ends with a shrug. I will have to think on this matter and read a lot about copyright all I have read so far has added to my confusion in some ways and enlighten me in others.
Thank you Javelin for Tinytalk its value to us poor lost souls is immense.
The links you supplied with it had good information about copyright
For now coding has stopped till I am confident no one is going to sue me.
The danger isn't really
The danger isn't really getting sued (that's pretty low probability). More likely would be getting a cease-and-desist letter and having to close unless you wanted to risk having to defend a lawsuit.
There's some variability here depending on your local laws, of course.