10-13-2016, 05:06 PM
So I discovered this project from an article on how Nintendo is assaulting fangames around the internet. Needless to say that's nothing new... though it does upset as well as amaze me never the less. Considering this has already happened to Pokemon Uranium, and it no doubt will happen again, I imagine this is one of the things that needs to be most thoroughly thought of: A project that's constantly at risk of legal harassment is not bound to have a long and happy life. For now, I mostly had two questions in this regard:
First of all: Are the developers prepared to defend themselves once Nintendo sends its next Cease & Desist order? In 99% of cases, when a fan game receives any kind of legal threat from a company, it's immediately nuked out of existence by the developers. Although this understandably happens because everyone will say "some silly game is not worth the risk of finding myself in a lawsuit", I really think it's time we see someone who fights back! Hosting the website in a country where Nintendo doesn't have legal influence is a start... also I think fair use is seriously not brought up enough when it comes to fan games!
And my second question was: I know that Pokemon Uranium uses original characters and art. This means that any objection is exclusively over the name Pokemon... and maybe similarities to a few specific mechanics if Nintendo is crazy enough to go there. Why still go with the name Pokemon?! Sure: It makes sense to stay connected to the series that inspired it, as well as to gain more popularity. But if the very word "Pokemon" is bound to bring in legal trouble, is it really worth sticking to it and not going fully original?
First of all: Are the developers prepared to defend themselves once Nintendo sends its next Cease & Desist order? In 99% of cases, when a fan game receives any kind of legal threat from a company, it's immediately nuked out of existence by the developers. Although this understandably happens because everyone will say "some silly game is not worth the risk of finding myself in a lawsuit", I really think it's time we see someone who fights back! Hosting the website in a country where Nintendo doesn't have legal influence is a start... also I think fair use is seriously not brought up enough when it comes to fan games!
And my second question was: I know that Pokemon Uranium uses original characters and art. This means that any objection is exclusively over the name Pokemon... and maybe similarities to a few specific mechanics if Nintendo is crazy enough to go there. Why still go with the name Pokemon?! Sure: It makes sense to stay connected to the series that inspired it, as well as to gain more popularity. But if the very word "Pokemon" is bound to bring in legal trouble, is it really worth sticking to it and not going fully original?
