What are the copyright laws for computer games?

[GBRM]

As above and mainly for games that have cars in them. If a software house develops a game and uses “real” cars do they need to get permission A from the manufacturer and if it is a particular persons car B from that owner?
If they do use a car without permission do they get into trouble or is it just one of those things?

[Steve Evil]

Yes they need to seek the permission from the manufacturer (and some manufacturers will also sell the rights to one particular developer, much like Porsche did a while back, hence why you only see RUFs in a lot of games.)

I assume they'd also need the owners permission if the car was clearly identifiable as theirs, i.e. if the number plate was visible or if it was a particularly unique car.

[mrmr96]

Indeed, notice how Porsches and Ferraris only appear in certain games. Bit of a shame in a way.
One of the other gripes that manufacturers sometimes seem to have is regards collision damage modelling. The technology exists to accuratly model collision damage (see Burnout and Race Driver Grid in particular) but it seems manufacturers don't want beat up versions of their cars appearing in games.

[GBRM]

That's pretty much what I thought. I was told a few weeks ago that a race car I own was in a PS2 game that I hadn't heard of before so I bought the game, played it (great game too!!) and eventually found the car. It's definitely mine (only one made and even has it's current race number!!) and I never gave permission for it to be used.
What should I do?

[Steve Evil]

GBRM said:

That's pretty much what I thought. I was told a few weeks ago that a race car I own was in a PS2 game that I hadn't heard of before so I bought the game, played it (great game too!!) and eventually found the car. It's definitely mine (only one made and even has it's current race number!!) and I never gave permission for it to be used.
What should I do?

I'd contact the publishers of the game and bring it to their attention. Might also be worth seeking some legal advice, must be a forum on here with some helpful law-types who can provide a better input than our guesswork.

[Riknos]

What game out of interest? They should of seeked permission first, as I'm sure you would of agreed to it, as its a bit of a compliment! But now, they could have a lawsuit on their hands..

What game out of interest?

[tim2100]

has somebody owned the car before you? maybe they gave permission.

how old is the game?

[GBRM]

Thanks again guys.
The Game is "The Getaway: Black Monday" and before anyone asks no it's not a TVR as I saw there was a thread several months ago on someone's TVR in it.
The game came out in November 2004 so it's not that old and I only knew about it recently as it came up in a car magazine article.
The car was owned by my late father before me and I am positive he didn't give permission as he would have mentioned it, 100% definitely, plus I have all of his letters (business and personal) and there is nothing in there.
I'm not after anything (would be nice though!!) and am more just intrigued and would like to know more about it plus I believe "The Getaway" is a licensed series so are there any newer games (I'm out of the games loop these days, only got a PS2 and it took me 4 weeks to find the car in the game!!) and are there plans for it to be used again.

[Steve Evil]

GBRM said:

Thanks again guys.
The Game is "The Getaway: Black Monday" and before anyone asks no it's not a TVR as I saw there was a thread several months ago on someone's TVR in it.
The game came out in November 2004 so it's not that old and I only knew about it recently as it came up in a car magazine article.
The car was owned by my late father before me and I am positive he didn't give permission as he would have mentioned it, 100% definitely, plus I have all of his letters (business and personal) and there is nothing in there.
I'm not after anything (would be nice though!!) and am more just intrigued and would like to know more about it plus I believe "The Getaway" is a licensed series so are there any newer games (I'm out of the games loop these days, only got a PS2 and it took me 4 weeks to find the car in the game!!) and are there plans for it to be used again.

Take it that it's a secret car? Only played the first game but I can remember a couple of lotus prototypes and a go-kart in that. It is a licensed game though, as it's chock full of BMWs, Mercs etc.

They were making a Getaway game for the PS3 but I think it got shelved a while back. I'd say you've got a fair chance of getting something out of it as it's quite clearly being used without your (or your father's) permission.

[Maxf]

I'd say you were probably entitled to some kind of payment. If it were me I'd get them to give me a few PS3s and games and take them round to the childrens wards.

[GBRM]

I don't know if it's the main part of the game (I'm stuck on the 6th mission at the moment!!) but in one of the modes you can have a wander around the streets and drive whatever you want and it's in there; was nice being able to drive it as it hasn't moved under it's own power for twenty years!! I would have thought they got licenses from manufacturers as it has Lotus, Mitsubishi, Vauxhalls, Mercedes, etc and several motorbikes.

It was developed by Team Soho/London Studio but I can't find any addresses for them on the internet. Maybe I should write directly to Sony Europe? My Dad passed away in April 2005 so just after the game came out and I'm positive he would have mentioned it as it would have been quite a big thing to him.

[Steve Evil]

The publisher is actually Sony Europe, and the developer is the Sony Computer Entertainment London Studio (formerly Team Soho), so you're not looking at a developer or publisher that has since shut down.

Edit:

See you've already seen that, there is a contact number and an email address here:

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/content/detail.asp...

Edited by Steve Evil on Wednesday 22 October 13:16

[Maxf]

What kind of car is it? How would they have got pics of it if t hasnt moved for 20 years (is it in a museum)?

[redbarron84]

Just out of interest, was your dad the late great Gerry Marshall?

Edited to say I just looked at your website (duh)
I have to say your father was an amzing racer, and raced for the best manufacturer of all.........yay vauxhall!

Edited by redbarron84 on Wednesday 22 October 13:57

[GBRM]

Steve Evil said:

The publisher is actually Sony Europe, and the developer is the Sony Computer Entertainment London Studio (formerly Team Soho), so you're not looking at a developer or publisher that has since shut down.

Edit:

See you've already seen that, there is a contact number and an email address here:

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/content/detail.asp...

Ah, that makes sense now, I couldn't understand what had happened to London Studio; I'll drop SCEE an email and see what happens.

Maxf said:

What kind of car is it? How would they have got pics of it if t hasnt moved for 20 years (is it in a museum)?

It's a racing car from the 1970s and it still goes to some car shows (there was a guy taking measurements of every part of it at Billing in 2005 but he disappeared before I could ask him what he was doing) and was in the Vauxhall Heritage Centre (their museum) but only on loan and has belonged to my Dad since 1975 and is well know to have been his.

I think what may have happened is Vauxhall have given permission without asking first and that certainly wouldn't surprise me but I'll ask SCEE and keep you all updated (if you want to be?) - thanks for the help so far.

[GBRM]

redbarron84 said:

Just out of interest, was your dad the late great Gerry Marshall?

Edited to say I just looked at your website (duh)
I have to say your father was an amzing racer, and raced for the best manufacturer of all.........yay vauxhall!

Edited by redbarron84 on Wednesday 22 October 13:57

Thanks Adam and I'll reserve judgement on Vauxhall until I have got to the bottom of this!! In case you didn't know the car in question is "Old Nail" which DTV gave to Dad in 1975 and the livery they have used is from 1978 when Dad last drove her in a Sprint at Brands Hatch, so there's no debate as to who the car belonged to, well, not in my eyes anyway!!

[Steve Evil]

In News today, Sony is not going to be making a Playstation 4, due to a lawsuit filed by the son of ex-racer Gerry Marshall, Marshall's car was used without consent in the Playstation 2 game The Getaway 2: Black Monday and he successfully sued the electronics giant for £10bn. A spokesman said 'We were stupid and this is going to ruin us.'

In all seriousness, let us know how you get on and I hope they compensate you in some way for it.

[Mattygooner]

I can't see a racing Vauxhall in this http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://bp... (ste it's a big link!)

This has all the cars and secret cars but no mention of yours.

[GBRM]

Steve Evil said:

In News today, Sony is not going to be making a Playstation 4, due to a lawsuit filed by the son of ex-racer Gerry Marshall, Marshall's car was used without consent in the Playstation 2 game The Getaway 2: Black Monday and he successfully sued the electronics giant for £10bn. A spokesman said 'We were stupid and this is going to ruin us.'

In all seriousness, let us know how you get on and I hope they compensate you in some way for it.

As I said it's more of an interest then a comepensation thing but I wouldn't say no if offered!! Will let you know how it goes.

[GBRM]

Mattygooner said:

I can't see a racing Vauxhall in this http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://bp... (ste it's a big link!)

This has all the cars and secret cars but no mention of yours.

That's great, thanks. It's in the free roaming are you can find it and it's at the end of three alleyways but I can't remember the are name, will check when I get home.