- Home /
Duplicate video game names, legal?
Trying to pick a name for my game and it seems like every possible name is already used. Am I correct to assume it is ok if I pick a name of a game that already exists as long as my game isn't just a copy of that game? I mean, chances are the two games could be similar.. like, if I made a game about balls, I might name it 'Crazy Balls' and of course if another game uses that name it might also be similar, but not an exact duplicate (I'd hope).
I do know about marketing related issues, like best if domain name is available and not too many established Google search results, etc.
I was thinking about "DropZone" as one option. I see there is an old game with that name, not like my game though. There is also a game company with that name.
No, it is a legal issue if the name is trademarked or copyrighted by a company.
Titles can't be copyrighted. There are a number of unrelated games with the same name, and it's perfectly legal, as long as there are no trademarks involved.
Thanks all, and from what I understand of a trademark, it usually has to be a very unique word or a special version of a word. For example, "phoneslips" or "phone slips" couldn't be trademarked, but "PHONEslips" (the exact case) could be.
You can trademark pretty much anything. Look at generic words like Apple, Windows, Word, etc., which are all trademarked.
http://www.lawyers.com/ask-a-lawyer/ask-a-question.html
To the OP: Don't ask legal questions here and act on them without due dilligence
Answer by GrnDyRx · Apr 25, 2014 at 03:35 PM
DropZone would have a unregistered trademark on their own company name, however, if its not too close its fine.
Your answer
Follow this Question
Related Questions
Copyrighted References in Gaming 3 Answers
Name for game, legal issues? 1 Answer
Copyright Infringement 4 Answers
Can I use any song in my game ??? 2 Answers
Any legal info should be included in the credits for Unity iOS game ? 1 Answer