In game brands

Jernej

Hi there people. Does anyone know if i can use real life brands in my game. Let's say i make a racing game. The players can choose their car (Honda....etc). Am i allowed to make something like that or do i need to make fake brands. I think that the best way would be to ask the manufacturers for permission. What do you think? thx

Justin Meisse

Nope, you have to make fake stuff. Even if you get permission now unless it's a legal binding document there's nothing stopping them from sending you a cease and desist later.

I think the only thing you can get away with are military vehicles (maybe)

Jernej

but i can make the same car and name it difrently. I would customize the car a bit. The logo, brand...etc.

Slum

No, you can't. They don't just own the name "Honda", they own the design for their car. If you make a car that looks exactly like a Civic with a different logo and name, they can still sue you.

Jernej

heh yea. I think you're right

Rick Stirling

Jernej wrote: »

but i can make the same car and name it difrently. I would customize the car a bit. The logo, brand...etc.

^^ This.

Weapons are the same for the most part.

jdevin

I believe the rule of thumb is change 10% of a vehicle and you can avoid legal hassles.
Logos and trademarks all have to be fake. In stranglehold the Chinese text that I used for containers say either Snake Oil Company or A Fake Company.

almighty_gir

you know, i was thinking about this the other day.

couldn't some studios gain some form of funding from doing this sort of thing? ie. have "coca cola" instead of "lolz red can with white text drink".

also, i never understood why Rockstar didn't capitalise on their in-car radio system, and billboards in GTA, by advertising up and coming products from any of their studios now and again.

Shadownami92

I don't know who profited more out of it. But I remember Metal Gear Solid 4 having in game product placement. Giving Snake an iPod and having Playboy magazines and whatnot.

But for that I'm pretty darn sure they made a deal of some sort with the companies.

Slum

almighty_gir wrote: »

you know, i was thinking about this the other day.

couldn't some studios gain some form of funding from doing this sort of thing? ie. have "coca cola" instead of "lolz red can with white text drink".

also, i never understood why Rockstar didn't capitalise on their in-car radio system, and billboards in GTA, by advertising up and coming products from any of their studios now and again.

Because most brands don't want to be associated with that game on the news where you can beat up hookers and shoot old ladies. Bad PR.

almighty_gir

i didn't mean specifically that GTA should advertise branded drinks. re-read it, i said rockstar should capitalise on their own infrastructure by advertising THEIR products in THEIR game.

Pseudo

Yeah, it's a legal minefield and if you are serious about it you will need to draw up contracts and establish a relationship with the brands that you want to feature.

If you are just doing a small game for fun you can roll the legal dice and hope that your game is so insignificant that it won't attract the attention of the brands.

I created a game that is based entirely around in-game advertising and branding (http://www.playretailtherapy.com/), and we spent a lot of time building relationships with the brands that we wanted to work with.