koobas.hobune.stream
Concerns/questions regarding copyright/IP ownership
So I've been wanting to remake a game that I used to play years ago.
It was in development by an indie company for ~ 5 years before they turned to a publisher for assistance (with server costs etc). Shortly after signing with the publisher, the developers dropped off the face of the earth. They stopped updating the game, stopped visiting the forums, all contact was lost.
The game was continued to be hosted for ~2-3 years after that by the publisher until they shut down the servers. As far as I know the company that developed the game was shut down indefinitely (and no longer exists).
I'd like to use some of the concepts/designs/ideas from the game - I'd be making my own assets (models, UI etc) but I'd like to use the general ideas implemented in this game (such as names or character designs, parts of back stories, and UI layouts/user interaction designs)
Could I be at risk if I used any of this? I understand the names/backstories would likely be an area of concern. But if I used designs similar to their UI layouts and user interaction methods (using my own assets), and changing/adding onto them, would this be an issue?
Or because the company no longer exists, and the game, as far as I know, has not been in development for ~5 years now, could the game be considered abandonware?
Any advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Part of the reason I want to use some of the backstories/designs is for nostalgia for me and others who used to play this game.
