Use real companies in game?

Robbietaylor · Dec 9, 2012, 01:23 AM

I am in the process of making a game that would take place in NYC. I plan to release the game in the app store eventually.
I assume it would be illegal if I used real company logos (like Starbucks) and reproduced the logo in my game?

Orange Furball · Dec 9, 2012, 01:47 AM

Yes. To use Starbucks you'll have to make like "Starcoffee" and change the logo. To use McDonalds you'll have to do "McBurgerShop" or something. I would recommend consulting a lawyer for further details.

thewitt · Dec 9, 2012, 02:02 AM

Even Starcoffee and McBurgerShop will get you sued if you are not careful. Playing off a well known trademark and making money from it is also a violation of trade dress.

roxxette · Dec 9, 2012, 02:16 AM

Take a look how rockstar games handle these

more specific the GTA franchise.

Dec 9, 2012, 01:23 AM	#1
Robbietaylor macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2009	Use real companies in game? I am in the process of making a game that would take place in NYC. I plan to release the game in the app store eventually. I assume it would be illegal if I used real company logos (like Starbucks) and reproduced the logo in my game?
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Dec 9, 2012, 01:47 AM	#2
Orange Furball macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Scranton, PA, USA	Yes. To use Starbucks you'll have to make like "Starcoffee" and change the logo. To use McDonalds you'll have to do "McBurgerShop" or something. I would recommend consulting a lawyer for further details. __________________ Hackintosh: Intel Core i5 2310 2.9GHz Quad Core, 8GB RAM, 64GB Boot SSD, 1TB OS X storage drive, 250GB Windows 7 drive, two DVD drives, running Mac OS X 10.8.1
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Dec 9, 2012, 02:02 AM	#3
thewitt macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2011	Even Starcoffee and McBurgerShop will get you sued if you are not careful. Playing off a well known trademark and making money from it is also a violation of trade dress.
	0

Dec 9, 2012, 02:16 AM	#4
roxxette Banned Join Date: Aug 2011	Take a look how rockstar games handle these more specific the GTA franchise.
	0


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