Legal Issues - Writers Forum

Anidazen · 07-08-2005, 03:22 PM

Hi. If I were looking into something like printing and selling guides to an online game (which is obviously copyrighted content) -- would this be a legal issue?

I notice that you see a lot of endorsed strategy guides and stuff, which have had to pay for the priveledge. But then again, I've also seen quite a few unofficial guides to things like this.

Does that mean that I could produce my own guide to a massive online game and sell it traditionally? Obviously you're constantly referencing trademarks and copyrighted material, but would this count as fair use? What if someone wanted to create a magazine based around one of these games?

Anyone know anything about this?

mammamaia · 07-09-2005, 07:59 AM

i'm fairly certain no one here can give you the info you need from a base of 'knowing'... from the mass of legal knowledge i do have [unofficially], i can say it's a pretty sure bet you'd have to get permission or risk a serious lawsuit for infringement of copyright, if you went ahead and did this w/o...

that said, my best advice to you is to hie yourself to a literary attorney and invest a few bucks on the requisite 'cya maneuver'... the alternative can be your worst nightmare squared, as folks who own such franchises can afford to sue you till the cows come home...

this advice applies equally to the uk and the us...

love and hugs, maia