An important question.

Shadow Wulf · Post by **Shadow Wulf** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:04 pm

Is it illegal for me to take a synopsis from a game to put it as a synopsis for that game itself but in a website that Im creating?

And is it also illegal for me to take bits and peaces from it to make my own synopsis.

RedEye · Post by **RedEye** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:49 pm

Not sure what you mean in your first paragraph, but if you're using it as an example or reference; no-that's fair use and reference. Be sure to attribute where you got it, though.

As for taking bits and pieces of a game and using them to make another game...thats what half the gamers DO, nowadays. There are only so many plots. Just be sure to change names and places...and the outcome!

Shadow Wulf · Post by **Shadow Wulf** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:54 am

Ok Ill just come out and say it like this. Is it illegal to take synopsis straight from a game but give them credit.

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:10 am

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's perfectly fine if you give them credit.

RedEye · Post by **RedEye** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:57 am

Just don't make any money doing it, or do it better than they did. That gets them mad.

Basically, you can use trademarked or copyrighted material as:
Reference
Example
Explanation
Illustration.
Its called "fair use" and is as legal as the day is long. If you make the attribution* flattering, they might even let you get away with more.

*attribution: saying "I got it from..... and used it for reference, etc; only. Property of....... ( trademark owner, copyright holder). "They make great games" is the S.U. factor that will cause them to make nice for your further use of their stuff. Everybody likes flattery.

Shadow Wulf · Post by **Shadow Wulf** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:36 pm

Well the website is for an arcade business and I just wanted to make a page for each game he has and have a synopsis about it.

Underneath the synopsis I put down "Synopsis is a copyright from IGN"