DopeFish in a game.
 

If you make say a, fan game or a freeware game and you put a DF reference in, does that require you to get the rights to DopeFish or can you just do it no questions asked?

To clarify: I don't mean make a DOPEFISH game, I mean have an easter egg within a game/secret level that is dopefish themed.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

I don't think id would enforce the copyright, however you'd be better off just making a fish that resembles the Dopefish.. instead of being one.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

For a start, you could type in "copyright" in Wikipedia, read the article, as well as the relevant articles linked to from it. That is a LOT of reading though, basically because this is a very complicated subject. :)

The game is freeware, so no profits, it's only a cameo, so something very small all people may not even notice, and you could make it satire, to which copyright doesn't apply, although that's what I understand from it; I'm not a lawyer.

More importantly, do the copyright holders (id Software) care, or care enough to sue some person/fan making a freeware game?
I doubt it, and as long as you're not doing anything in bad taste they won't have a reason either.
(Well, of course sometimes fan games are shut down because the IP's creators are afraid the inferior material could hurt their IP.)
Id didn't mind the Masters of Doom Flash cartoon either, so that's cool.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

I understand the basics of copyrights and copyrighting. I just wasn't entirely sure if Dopefish was specifically owned by iD or if it was some kind of a general gaming thing that was not copyrighted by anyone specifically. For instance, it appears in Max Payne. Does that mean that they(Remedy/3Drealms.) had to get copyright permission or just go with it?

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

I have no idea what really goes on between the companies, however it was always my understanding that the Dopefish eastereggs and secrets were out of comedy (a running gag) and in a grey area that id never enforced.

Little cameos are very different from a full-blown Dopefish game however.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Just add "Dopefish Lives" or something.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Well I wasn't really even sure on having it, I just wanted to be clear on what the copyright rules were about em.

Im probably just gonna go with it since it shouldn't be a big deal.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Well if your not making money off this lil' game, do it

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

There was a fan game where you played as a Dopefish eating stuff and commander keen.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Wasn't that called Dopefish Lives? I believe it was some crappy Klik 'n Play thing.

(Found it: http://dosclassics.com/download/23)

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Im gonna have the Dopefish on my rear window on my Olds. when im done with it...Dopefish in the top center and its gonna say Swim Swim Hungry Swim in green letters :)

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Send in a picture when you get a chance.

Re: DopeFish in a game.
 

Oh I will :)