Blizzard's policy concerning third party content is very far from clean and simple.
The fact that we have maps with names and themes from copyrighted franchises like Halo or Super Smash Brothers that are allowed to exist on the service proves that there is flexibility in the Starcraft II Custom Game Acceptable Use Policy that states "the content you (I) use to create any Custom Games or upload to the Service, nor the compilation, arrangement or display of such content (collectively, the “User Content”), infringes or will infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party." Clearly the presence of original custom models that resemble content from franchises pushes on the barrier of tolerance a little more.
I'm not concerned in the least whether a questionable map can be featured, as long as it's allowed to exist and be played. I'm also not overly concerned with the implications of the official word, since there is apparently room for leniency. Anyone can easily change the name of their map and units to something original as to avoid the problem, but the similarity between original custom models and the content they're supposed to take after cannot be changed as easily - especially since Blizzard holds the final word on its judgement.
@TwoDie: Go
Interesting. It does help, thanks. My map does include a few imported sounds too, but not whole music tracks. With regard to your uploaded sounds, did Blizzard ask you to remove the sounds for the map to be featured, or altogether regardless of being featured? That's a pretty important distinction. It may be for some, but whether or not my map is featured is not important to me, and it also may not be important to future inquirers either.
@TheLostAzn: GoThere are a lot of maps out there using names and lore of other franchises, though (a buddy created a WH40k map, no assets but obviously all the unit names, gameplay mechanics and stuff, didn't get taken down yet :D).
Exactly why it's sketchy, yeah. There are a few super smash brothers/dragonballz/halo maps around that use names from lore without penalty (that we know of), but I do understand if a unit is using the lore name, AND the close resembling custom model, AND custom imported sounds, AND in a map that features tonnes of content from that specific franchise, would be judged upon a bit more harshly.
Of course the word from Blizzard's legal department would be the final word on this. I'll update this thread when I get the response, as to set a precedence.
I'm getting mixed responses from past threads all over the forum concerning Blizzard's policy dealing with custom content. I know things like music that are easily identifiable are grounds for penalty, and I know at least one person who's map was removed because it contained third-party audio tracks. What about custom models? I received permission from the creator of several models to use for SC2, but getting by Blizzard is another issue. Now, these models strongly resemble 'content' from a franchise that is while deceased, the company that owns it is still up and about. They are however not the authors of the models.
So the question then is, can Blizzard book you and/or your map on models that resembles content from a non-blizzard franchise? Can you get booked on basing your map on a franchise with names and lore from said franchise used in combination with original models? Someone a while back made available two models of ships from Halo. Has anyone been booked when they used those models in their game and named the units based on Halo lore?
I've also contacted Blizzard's legal department and am waiting to hear the official word. That aside, I would like to hear what you guys know or have experienced in regard to this. Or, if there is a more obvious and informative thread on this, point me toward it.
Thanks.
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@Leruster: Go
Blizzard's policy concerning third party content is very far from clean and simple.
The fact that we have maps with names and themes from copyrighted franchises like Halo or Super Smash Brothers that are allowed to exist on the service proves that there is flexibility in the Starcraft II Custom Game Acceptable Use Policy that states "the content you (I) use to create any Custom Games or upload to the Service, nor the compilation, arrangement or display of such content (collectively, the “User Content”), infringes or will infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party." Clearly the presence of original custom models that resemble content from franchises pushes on the barrier of tolerance a little more.
I'm not concerned in the least whether a questionable map can be featured, as long as it's allowed to exist and be played. I'm also not overly concerned with the implications of the official word, since there is apparently room for leniency. Anyone can easily change the name of their map and units to something original as to avoid the problem, but the similarity between original custom models and the content they're supposed to take after cannot be changed as easily - especially since Blizzard holds the final word on its judgement.
@TwoDie: Go Interesting. It does help, thanks. My map does include a few imported sounds too, but not whole music tracks. With regard to your uploaded sounds, did Blizzard ask you to remove the sounds for the map to be featured, or altogether regardless of being featured? That's a pretty important distinction. It may be for some, but whether or not my map is featured is not important to me, and it also may not be important to future inquirers either.
Exactly why it's sketchy, yeah. There are a few super smash brothers/dragonballz/halo maps around that use names from lore without penalty (that we know of), but I do understand if a unit is using the lore name, AND the close resembling custom model, AND custom imported sounds, AND in a map that features tonnes of content from that specific franchise, would be judged upon a bit more harshly.
Of course the word from Blizzard's legal department would be the final word on this. I'll update this thread when I get the response, as to set a precedence.
Gentlemen,
I'm getting mixed responses from past threads all over the forum concerning Blizzard's policy dealing with custom content. I know things like music that are easily identifiable are grounds for penalty, and I know at least one person who's map was removed because it contained third-party audio tracks. What about custom models? I received permission from the creator of several models to use for SC2, but getting by Blizzard is another issue. Now, these models strongly resemble 'content' from a franchise that is while deceased, the company that owns it is still up and about. They are however not the authors of the models.
So the question then is, can Blizzard book you and/or your map on models that resembles content from a non-blizzard franchise? Can you get booked on basing your map on a franchise with names and lore from said franchise used in combination with original models? Someone a while back made available two models of ships from Halo. Has anyone been booked when they used those models in their game and named the units based on Halo lore?
I've also contacted Blizzard's legal department and am waiting to hear the official word. That aside, I would like to hear what you guys know or have experienced in regard to this. Or, if there is a more obvious and informative thread on this, point me toward it.
Thanks.