Where i'm from these rules are pretty much the same (and I don't live in the US but in EU).
This is usually a general rule with regards to copyright. Also he can definitely proof it if he has the original files with timestamps on his renders and code files. Even more so if he has digital note's on the story or concept before its inception into code/renders (again with timestamps).
International copyright laws, are pretty much a copy/paste of the US ones.
I agree but then you would need to change the narrative of the game otherwise it wont hold up in court.The lore, as long as it's kept "general", would be ok. He'd only have to label it as a parody to get away with it really
He'd probably need to "parody" the title too. But we're in greyish area here.
I agree with this.
At best that means, he owns the renders. Which he does. He has access to neither the story nor the code.
Well, the international copyright law is a clusterfuck. The only reason larger corporations manage to enforce them are because they have a solid legal footing and a well-paid legal team. It's simply never cost-effective otherwise.
It would be correct if you had a legal contract granting you rights, but as it stands, he owns the game's copyright and everything that comes to it since he is the creator and owner.
Partly correct, they're complex and certainly designed to help out the bigger ones. Which in your case, is 100% against you, as you are not the owner
PR stunts tend to increase the money one's making.
It's up to you man, at the end of the day, if both are somehow going to happen, we the players are the real winners here ^_^
yeah no thanks
Actually if he did not have a contract with Sihil and Sihil was the writer, Sihil still has all rights to the writing. Not to the renders and Sihil could actually sue him for using his text/writing/lore without permission in his game, though proving it could be hard.
There is a reason why smart devs do make sure they have a contract or permission in writing when use the mods or work of others in their game even if just some small code, since else they open themselves to a claim of a part of the profits by those third parties.
You know, I thought so too at first but actually, this is perfect. It was never about me finishing the project, just that the project gets finished. If he wants to finish the game he can go ahead. I can focus all of my energy on this game instead of trying to fit it to a mold that was never that good, to begin with anyway.
It would be correct if you had a legal contract granting you rights, but as it stands, he owns the game's copyright and everything that comes to it since he is the creator and owner.
You were only brought in as a writer, meaning, you own nothing (I'm truly sorry, but that's how it is.)
Technically speaking, he could legally force you to release everything you've got and he has no access to, as it is his property.
Partly correct, they're complex and certainly designed to help out the bigger ones. Which in your case, is 100% against you, as you are not the owner
I really am sorry, this situation sucks, especially since it was a really good game.
But in my honest opinion, you'd be much better of creating something else, while similar, but keeping it different.
I mean, I do not know what the current situation is with the game's owner, but if it's still as bad, it would save you a lot of potential issues later on.
Putting aside the fact that a brief browse through discussions from actual practicing business/IP attorneys shows this is far more complicated and messy than you two are making it out to be... (IP rights can be owned by a business instead of an individual, Sznuk didn't come up with this project alone and almost certainly didn't ask his friend to sign a legal document giving up whatever rights the friend might have had, and international cases can be an issue in terms of differing laws/not having an agreement between countries or potentially increased cost/time.)
I was thinking of something here, but since the original owner is back to life apparently, I won't go any further with either sides.
I like this idea. I really was hoping to see an ending to the original game but if this turn of events ends with the result of 2 decent games or even just one with a complete story then I'm all for it.
True its probably way more complicated and neither will probably have the capital to even sue one another in their respected countries. But they can still make their case with Patreon to get each others game off that platform.
I see we do think alike.
