Computer game image copyright

darklow

Hi guys,

hope this is the right forum, I have a question about copyright law concerning images from computer games. I am a composer who has done some work on short films, but want to start writing music for computer games. I am going to send a few flyers with my details to computer game colleges, but on the flyer I designed I put a picture from Call of Duty Black ops.

It was just a picture I found on Google images, am I allowed to use this picture at all or do I put a disclaimer stating what game the picture is from?

thanks!

Paulw

darklow wrote: »

I am going to send a few flyers with my details to computer game colleges, but on the flyer I designed I put a picture from Call of Duty Black ops.

It was just a picture I found on Google images, am I allowed to use this picture at all or do I put a disclaimer stating what game the picture is from?

Using the image would be in breach of copyright.

Just because you found it using google doesn't mean you have the right to use it.

darklow

Thought so, should I get in contact with the game company or just try get a stock photo of something else? Or just a logo?

I know this isn't a design forum so sorry bout this!

tommy21

You can't use it and chances are you will not be permitted to do so - why don't you approach an Irish company (or at least one based here) - Blizzard Games in Cork might permit you...

Failing that forget paying for stock photos and try this website - most images either are copyright free or ask you to contact author first via email: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

dermot_sheehan

Also see sections 50 to 52 of the Copyright Act

50.—(1) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, sound recording, film, broadcast, cable programme, or non-electronic original database, for the purposes of research or private study, shall not infringe any copyright in the work.

(2) Fair dealing with a typographical arrangement of a published edition for the purposes of research or private study shall not infringe any copyright in the arrangement.

(3) The copying by a person, other than the researcher or private student, is not fair dealing where—

(a) in the case of a librarian or archivist, he or she does anything which is not permitted under section 63 , or

(b) in any other case, the person copying knows or has reason to believe that the copying will result in copies of substantially the same material being provided to more than one person at approximately the same time and for substantially the same purpose.

(4) In this Part, “fair dealing” means the making use of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, film, sound recording, broadcast, cable programme, non-electronic original database or typographical arrangement of a published edition which has already been lawfully made available to the public, for a purpose and to an extent which will not unreasonably prejudice the interests of the owner of the copyright.

(5) In this Part, the following acts are not fair dealing—

(a) converting a computer program expressed in a low level computer language into a version expressed in a higher level computer language, or

(b) copying a computer program in an incidental manner in the course of converting that program.

Fair dealing: criticism or review.

51.—(1) Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of criticism or review of that or another work or of a performance of a work shall not infringe any copyright in the work where the criticism or review is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement.

(2) Fair dealing with a work (other than a photograph) for the purpose of reporting current events shall not infringe copyright in that work, where the report is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement.

(3) In this Part, “sufficient acknowledgement” means an acknowledgement identifying the work concerned by its title or other description and identifying the author unless—

(a) in the case of a work which has been lawfully made available to the public, it was so made available anonymously, or

(b) in the case of a work which has not been made available to the public, it is not possible for a person without previous knowledge of the facts to ascertain the identity of the author of the work by reasonable enquiry.

Incidental inclusion of copyright material.

52.—(1) The copyright in a work is not infringed by its inclusion in an incidental manner in another work.

(2) The copyright in a work is not infringed by the making available to the public of copies of anything the making of which was not, by virtue of subsection (1), an infringement of the copyright.

(3) A work shall not be regarded as included in an incidental manner in another work where it is included in a manner where the interests of the owner of the copyright are unreasonably prejudiced.

(4) The copyright in a work which has been lawfully made available to the public is not infringed by the use of quotations or extracts from the work, where such use does not prejudice the interests of the owner of the copyright in that work and such use is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement.

Jev/N

tommy21 wrote: »

You can't use it and chances are you will not be permitted to do so - why don't you approach an Irish company (or at least one based here) - Blizzard Games in Cork might permit you...

Activision Blizzard via Treyarch produced Call of Duty Black Ops