Scumm clone legal issues

[cisco17]

I just want to ask here if someone has better information or knowledge:

Now that lucasfilms/arts is closed and disney is the owner of their game licenses, are they also the owners of the scumm system?

When lots of years ago "Igor: objetivo Uikokahonia" was released, it was a pretty decent clone of their system, using a close approach of the verb and icon system and the game mecanics are almost identical. Also the font itself used to write the text was very close if not the same.

Back then nobody sued them nor seamed to worry about it, and it was a comercial game.

If nowadays someone tries to release a same style game beeing a close approach to the scumm system, also in low resolution, in a kickstarter way... besides beeing a probably big fail because of lack of general interest, do anyone know if there maybe some legal problems, assuming that all the graphics, music, characters and story are original?

And do anybody know whats the current policy of disney with fangames of their franchises? I think I remember lucasarts not beeing very friendly about them or scummvm itself.

Or maybe is Telltale who has something to say about monkey island fan games, for example?

Thanks!

[eriktorbjorn]

Now that lucasfilms/arts is closed and disney is the owner of their game licenses, are they also the owners of the scumm system?

Probably.

If nowadays someone tries to release a same style game beeing a close approach to the scumm system, also in low resolution, in a kickstarter way... besides beeing a probably big fail because of lack of general interest, do anyone know if there maybe some legal problems, assuming that all the graphics, music, characters and story are original?

I'm not a lawyer, but I don't see how anyone could claim ownership over such an interface. LucasArts may have been the first to combine that kind of third-person view with that kind of verb interface, but variations of it have been used in lots and lots of games over the years.

Some of them pre-date Maniac Mansion (1987). The first one I remember playing was Deja Vu on the Macintosh, and that one was released in 1985.

[Collector]

I'm not a lawyer, but I don't see how anyone could claim ownership over such an interface. LucasArts may have been the first to combine that kind of third-person view with that kind of verb interface, but variations of it have been used in lots and lots of games over the years.

Also, don't forget that Apple sued MS over the GUI and lost.

[cisco17]

Thanks for the answers!

And does someone know how disney could react to fan games using their licenses?

I mean if there is a precedent, no if you can guess the future..

[eriktorbjorn]

And does someone know how disney could react to fan games using their licenses?

I don't know about games specifically, but in the past they have at times been pretty protective about their property...

[digitall]

Errm... bets on Sophia being a Markov Chain bot? ...

[Collector]

Later versions of phpBB have an automatic "Newly Registered" group that need to have the first few posts approved. This is probably a bot trying to sneak a post past moderators before spamming.

[digitall]

Yes. Tend to agree. Will remove posts and the account.

sophiadcruise: If you are a human, please feel free to re-register.