Hi all
I've read the GW IP policy but I'm still not sure if these images below would be ok to use in Epic:Nemesis. Technically, they are GW work but they are not images that they have used and have been modified by me so this is where I'm unsure.

Are there any legalese people who can interpret GW IP policy on this for me?

Thanks guys

Modified is not good enough if they astarted life as images made by gw

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Yeah I thought it might be so

EDIT - "astarted" life I just got that. Even if it was just coincidence

What if they are totally re-drawn files – but redrawn based from a GW document. Does this mean that you cannot draw the logo of any GW IP (eg the ultramarines, blood angels – you would not modify the BA logo, or it would not longer be BA?) for use in a supplement?

_________________
AFK with real life, still checking PMs

could you use the hewlat packard label even if you'd drawn it yourself?

could you use mickey mouse if your copy hand been done from scratch while looking at a picture?

on the other hand:
wolf head is not copywritable
wolf skull isn't (but i suspect wolf skull on crossbones with horizontal lightning flash is)
the other skulls? as long as they're reasonbly generic you should be ok

at a guess.

you could always drop GW legal an Email

EDIT: actually don't.

No – but in the supplement is there not some degree of permission (assuming non profit etc) to publish a book that is in the area of GW IP already? eg, you are already using GW fluff, names, units names etc? This would otherwise presumably mean that no fan supplement can use anything resembling any in-game/fluff logos or insignia?

For example, Epic: Raiders includes fan art work that has drawings of GW logos in it (such as blood angel insignia) that would be a breach of IP (i think it *does* breach IP anyway? but GW allow fan art, conversions of minis etc or else the hobby collapses)?

Edit: sorry if i'm being obtuse about this, just trying to understand

_________________
AFK with real life, still checking PMs

Basically, GW's IP policy is looser than the legal IP requirements. Standard IP rules would mean you couldn't use any images based on GW products, or even any GW trademarks like "Space Marine" or "Epic Armageddon".

However, GW, recognising that this is a hobby based on creative interpretation of their IP, allows use of the names and concepts in non-commercial projects, just so long as you don't use any actual images of theirs, or mix the IP with non-GW IP.

Basically, if you draw your own Ultramarines symbol that's fine, but reprinting a GW one isn't. Neither is fine if you draw it on a flag being carried by a Care Bear.

Scratch the Cuddle Marines project then... Why do you always rain on my parade, zombo?

_________________
SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

The ultramarines symbol is just an omega. Surely you can draw an omega and say it's your own. The problem is associating it w/ the Ultramarines themselves.

_________________

… so overall what this means is that thanks to GWs IP being slightly less strict than it could be, you can make a supplement about ultramarine, which includes fan-art of blue spare marines, captioned as ultramarines, but then in the shoulders of said blue space marines you would be better off drawing a pangolin wearing a monocle than an inverted omega?

Also presumably both previous supplements are against GW IP recommendations then, since they include community drawn illustrations of GW in-fluff logos and iconography, associated with their relevant fluff background units.

I hope i've misunderstood this

_________________
AFK with real life, still checking PMs

i think you have.

based on the reaction (and lack thereof) to the previous supplements, assume the same rules still apply?

you can draw out the symbols, but not copy and paste them from GW?

Presumably you also have to keep the IP intact - ie, no stealing little bits or mixing with other IP (like Care Bears)

So given the above images are copies only and photoshopped, how do they sit? I'm confused by it all.

Good, sorry for the reductio ad absurdum

So, if i draw myself a blood angles logo in illustrator and use it in a supplement is that allowed? It is not copy and pasted from GW, but has been fully redrawn (but it is still a blood angles logo, clearly) can it be used in a supplement? A disclaimer would state that GW owns the IP and it would be marked as unofficial etc as per standard.

If such an image cannot be used (which is fine, GW are allowed to protect their IP ), then what is the status of the fan art logos shown in the current 2 supplements?

_________________
AFK with real life, still checking PMs

i think it's technically they couldn't be used, but GW will allow you to, as long as you make very clear they're allowing you too.

The risk to them is IP dilution - where things become so generic you can't claim the IP anymore. In the UK two examples would be the name 'hoover' and 'sellotape'. Both were originally specific products but are now generic names.

GW allows you to use them, but they don't have to.