A question regarding intellectual property rights and creations within the game

[Gigaknight]

Greetings. Let's say someone has ideas for a story he would like to write in the future. That person plays StarMade, and thinks to manifest those ideas ingame--as an example, he comes up with some spacecraft he would include in that story, and would like to better visualize them by creating them ingame. I wonder if that player would retain his rights to the created ship, or would he--via using StarMade to create that ship--have forfeited his rights to the company that owns StarMade?

The following part of the EULA brought this concern to mind:

If you make any content available on or through our Game, you must give us permission to use, copy, modify and adapt that content. This permission must be irrevocable, and you must also let us permit other people to use, copy, modify and adapt your content. If you don‘t want to give us this permission, do not make content available on or through our Game. Please think carefully before you make any content available, because it will be made public and might even be used by other people in a way you don‘t like.

At best, I imagine that this covers StarMade's owner in regard to reproducing whatever the player makes so that it can be displayed before anyone else who might happen to see the player's creation in gameplay/gameplay footage elsewhere. However, I wonder if this means that the company would claim rights to that ship should the player eventually monetize that story and anything based on it--with that ship included.

 

[Tydeth]

If he makes it in single-player, and does not upload to the StarMade Dock Community Content section, that part doesn't apply to him as he would not have "made it available" with the game.

That part of the EULA covers the Community Content and multiplayer servers.

 

[Tshara]

I remember we had to sign a separate contract for the contest stations specifically to transfer the rights of the creation to Shine.

 

[DukeofRealms]

I wonder if this means that the company would claim rights to that ship should the player eventually monetize that story and anything based on it

Even if you were to make the content "available", all that section would allow us, in regards to the ships, is to use it. That is all. It says nothing about ownership. The most we could do is incorporate those ships in the game, if you were you to make it publicly available. And even then, as Tshara mentions, we don't consider the EULA to give us those rights.

It's there so that we're able to use player-made ships to market the game (which we always ask permission first) and to allow us to distribute them, if you make them publicly available.

 

[DrTarDIS]

Even if you were to make the content "available", all that section would allow us, in regards to the ships, is to use it. That is all. It says nothing about ownership. The most we could do is incorporate those ships in the game, if you were you to make it publicly available. And even then, as Tshara mentions, we don't consider the EULA to give us those rights.

It's there so that we're able to use player-made ships to market the game (which we always ask permission first) and to allow us to distribute them, if you make them publicly available.

Basically you guys intend to use that section, and the others like it in the other EULA that associated services and companies (like SMD was/is?), to get the game/engine out there during development then?

Double-protection for the scope of how "Community Content" serves up copies of the likeness to anyone who asks. Or if other players "see" it and by definition shine engine HAS to serve up and use a copy to show it to them.

Likewise double protection for anyone who hosts a server, since then they have to be the one passing around "Intellectual property."

 

[Gigaknight]

Thanks, all, for the replies and enlightenment.

 

[DukeofRealms]

Basically you guys intend to use that section, and the others like it in the other EULA that associated services and companies (like SMD was/is?), to get the game/engine out there during development then?

Double-protection for the scope of how "Community Content" serves up copies of the likeness to anyone who asks. Or if other players "see" it and by definition shine engine HAS to serve up and use a copy to show it to them.

Likewise double protection for anyone who hosts a server, since then they have to be the one passing around "Intellectual property."

Essentially, yes. As you mention, on servers it's necessary that ships/space stations etc. are able to be distributed to other players in some form. If not, mp is not possible.

As for SMD, the EULA did not apply as it was separate. SMD has its own ToS that gives the site permission to use uploaded material.