Copy Right Laws and Mods

[siRkid]

I was thinking of making a mod base on Warhammer 40K and using some of their graphics. Is that legal seeing how I'm not selling the mod or will Games Workshop blow a cork?

[T_K]

GW tends to be anal about these things so I'm not sure if I'd risk it. Wouldn't hurt to shoot them an email. Might help to explain that it's for a generally obscure game (that is, not sold in the millions ) with a small fan base.

[SMK-at-work]

The guy who wrote Flames of War started with "Warhammer Panzer Battles"....but it was not a complete rule set and you needed a copy of WH to play it - that was not an infringement because it did not copy the subject matter - indeed he sold the rights to that set to GW and went on to write Flames of War!
 
Arguably if you write a mod that puts WH into the AT system you are probably infringing copyright because it is not a supplement and you do not need a copy of WH in order to play it.
 
Of course if you use non-copyright graphics (such as pics of your own models) and call it something other than a GW trademark (War Tactics, Advanced Hammer....[:D]) then you can probably do what you want.

[dazoline II]

I asked this question a few months back on this forumas well and got similar replies. From what I've gathered on it since then you must ask permission to use it, if its denied and still used its a civil offence (at least in Canada) as in they sue your butt. It dosen't matter about your profit or lack thereof although that may influence their granting permission.
 
I'm not a lawyer nor is this advice from one but this is the guidance I use on using other peoples graphics.
 
 
PS There really is a big difference from your boot camp pic and your avatar. [8D]

[siRkid]

Thanks all, that is what I thought. Too bad I can see lots of possibilities.  I was 17 at the time of my BC picture.

[Bombur]

Why don´t you finish the mod with modified graphics and another name?

[JAMiAM]

ORIGINAL: Bombur

Why don´t you finish the mod with modified graphics and another name?

That's right. Generally, parody is protected, especially if you're not making money on it. Call it Warclammer 401k, and you should be safe...[;)]

[siRkid]

I'll play around with it.

[PDiFolco]

Yep , call it WarSickle 30K, call units "Spice Murines", use "derivative" pics (such as figures photos), and you're pretty safe. [:D]
IIRC there's a Civ4 WH mod project and noone farted about it yet.