Creating a Harry Potter mmorpg.

[Dasha]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida
Can one get permission from a company big as Warner Bro's is and to use one of their licensed ideas(Harry Potter)? Especially if its only a small group of indie game designers.


If not can I write up a disclaimer stating that none of the ideas belong to me or that any ideas that are someone elses are entirely coincidental or only used to describe something similar to it?
Will they try and sue me even if I don't make any money off of the game, if its free?

 

[FlyingRon]

It's unlikely that Rowling's empire would license you. Your chance of staying up long as an unlicensed site is slim. They pretty heavily go after people (like a group that just built a replica of the Hogwarts castle).

 

[ecmst12]

If they don't vigorously protect their copyright, they could lose it.

 

[latigo]

You can’t be serious.

If that venture doesn’t pan out, how about opening an amusement park and call it “Disney Acres”, or “6 ½ Flags?

 

[Hot Topic]

Used to work for a company licensed to merchandise products based on the Peanuts comic strip. We got letters all the time from people wanting to sew Snoopys to make some extra money.

Attorneys for this kind of endeavor are pit bulls when it comes to protecting the client's interest. There are plenty of people who want to make money from someone else's creativity because, "That company makes millions. It won't hurt them if I make a few t-shirts with their characters on them and sell them at the local street fair." Odd how the attitude changes when it's someone who wants to use YOUR idea without compensation.

 

[Hot Topic]

Sorry. I haven't mastered editing on my new laptop yet.

Companies also want to monitor the quality of the product someone - some sublicensed someone - wants to do. They don't want junk out there with their name on it and their reputation attached to it.

 

[FlyingRon]

If they don't vigorously protect their copyright, they could lose it.

Trademark yes, copyright no.