So when's Obsidian going top sue Activision for mullions of dollars?

[sorophx]

to* sue, of course. typo in the title 

 

 

we all know who that is. I'm not sure Obsidian owns the rights to Darth Nihilus's image, though. 

is it even feasible to get any money from Activision for such a blatant theft of intellectual property?

Edited November 10, 2013 by sorophx

[Sannom]

Problem with that : I don't know where that design comes from, but it seems to be pretty much universal. A japanese film-maker used it : No-Face in Spirited Away. A duo of french comic-book writer and artist used it : the mummy in Smoke City.

[sorophx]

well, I mean the split in the middle going through the nose cavity. that's pretty recognizable and has become an iconic Star Wars image, no?

[Gorgon]

I remember KOTOR, but that wasn't the first thing that sprung to mind when I saw that image. If you always had to worry about copying something existing you wouldn't be ablte to create anything. 

[sorophx]

well, I guess you're right. it's hard to come up with a stylized image of a skull that looks unique. I'm just curious if the artist/designer had known about Nihilus before he came up with his concept, or if it's just a  coincidence. and if it could be made into a court case 

[Sannom]

Not by Obsidian anyways, all that stuff belongs to Lucas Arts, or whichever entity got the rights after it was closed.

[Walsingham]

If it was possible to copyright a human skull, then Amazon would have done so already.

[Gorth]

Not by Obsidian anyways, all that stuff belongs to Lucas Arts, or whichever entity got the rights after it was closed.

 

Pretty much this. Disney could put Mickey Mouse in Darth Nihilus' mask if they felt like it.

 

If it was possible to copyright a human skull, then Amazon would have done so already.

It's not like the medico industry isn't trying to patent human genes and DNA already. I'm waiting for the day they're going to send me a cease and desist note, stop infringing on their patent by existing. But that's a discussion for another thread

[Tale]

If it was possible to copyright a human skull, then Amazon would have done so already.

Someone's upset about one click.

[Amentep]

You can't copyright a design, as far as I know.

 

You can trademark one, but I'd think you'd have a hard time winning an argument that the CoD:G imagine is infringing on Darth Nihlus' "trademarked image" without it being on a mask of a character.  As an apparently spray-painted design on a wall alone, I don't see it being easily argued that there is confusion of brands - intentionally or unintentionally.

[Gorgon]

 

If it was possible to copyright a human skull, then Amazon would have done so already.

Someone's upset about one click.

 

Well it is pretty ridiculous. It's a bit like cyber squatting really in so much as it doesn't require effort  as much as simply getting to the patent office  first. The EU laughed in Amazon's faces though. 

[Snake Eater]

I don't think the "gritty" skull bears any resemblance to the mask Darth Nihilus wore. Maybe the general shape, sure, but I don't think that's grounds for suing the ever living **** out of somebody. If that were the case, I'd sue everyone for copying my human costume.

[Wolfenbarg]

 

Not by Obsidian anyways, all that stuff belongs to Lucas Arts, or whichever entity got the rights after it was closed.

 

Pretty much this. Disney could put Mickey Mouse in Darth Nihilus' mask if they felt like it.

 

If it was possible to copyright a human skull, then Amazon would have done so already.

It's not like the medico industry isn't trying to patent human genes and DNA already. I'm waiting for the day they're going to send me a cease and desist note, stop infringing on their patent by existing. But that's a discussion for another thread

 

You're just mad because your avatar infringes on their copyright.