Question About 3D Modeling Models

[deademon]

It's okay if I model a Bane Thrall as long as I'm not trying to sell it for a profit right? or if i post it anywhere make sure I post that all copywrite stuff belongs to PP?

[PG_Gearjock]

Copyright protects copying. You are copying. Does it fall into a fair use exception? No. So yeah, I wouldn't do it or else you might have a fun call from PP legal.

[deademon]

then how do people get away with fan art? PP even has a section on the forum for it.

[newbis]

IP challenges aren't really as cut and dried as that. You can create a model in the style of Bane Thralls because you can't copyright stye. If you intend to use the model only for personal use, you also run into less difficulties. As soon as you try to sell the model or post up the design, you are entering potential copyright litigation territory, regardless of whether or not what you've done is actually illegal because it is a company's responsibility to defend its IP. See the various GW lawsuits for what I mean.

[Temoinlanuit]

You're probably doing it for a college course or something like that. Go for it. Past all the legalese, no one is really going to do anything. Ask, though, and the answer has to be "no, you can't".

[Junn Khan]

You're probably doing it for a college course or something like that. Go for it. Past all the legalese, no one is really going to do anything. Ask, though, and the answer has to be "no, you can't".

Bad advice. Owners of IP have to protect their IP, otherwise they loose the rights to protect it, so yes, anyone in that situation should do something about it. Ask first. The worst that PP can say is no, then you can certainly use the Bane Knight as inspiration. That being said the folks at PP are rather classy gents and ladies, and will probably either explain why they said no or will say yes.

[deademon]

You're probably doing it for a college course or something like that. Go for it. Past all the legalese, no one is really going to do anything. Ask, though, and the answer has to be "no, you can't".

ive already graduated. living in Ohio i found that it was a waste of a degree and am now just playing around with it. its been a while since ive touched the programs so i thought if i make a dude, put bones in him and maybe make a quick short or something of him playing around and swinging his axe.

(shrug) looks like i wont be showing it off though : / from the looks of the thread

[Deo85]

You most certainly can do this... Check out this thread: http://privateerpressforums.com/show...n-s-3D-musings

Sense these were done and put on the PP from with out any whiplash for doing it I say its ok just don't sell them by any means.

[PG_ThatRickGuy]

In general:
Any IP (Copyright, Trademark, or Patent) is only as strong as your lawyer.

Also, in civil cases, the plaintif is limited to suing for damages and court fees. There are criminal IP laws, but it is exceptionally rare to get charged under them as they must be persued by the state, not by the offended.

Defending yourself against a IP lawsuit is an incredibly complex subject, but for the most part, so long as you are not using their trademark anywhere near your rendering, and you are not creating confusion as to your rendering being a product of their brand, and you aren't distributing enough to make any sort of impact on their business, the odds of being sued are negligable.

So be open, be upfront, make sure that your work is clearly identified as yours and can not be confused with their brands, and if they send you a cease and desist letter, stop. Until then, have at!

-Rick

PS: I am not a lawyer, this is not to be taken as legal advice

[praxedes]

I reckon you're good to go.

Reason being, presumably you are doing this to produce your version, not a perfect copy. Style cannot, as mentioned, be copyrighted, unless it's a horrible patent issue a la Apple/Samsung. Iconography is IP dependent, so no cryxian symbols for you, but otherwise you are good- consider how many "spares" for Space Marines and Dreadnoughts are available from small sculpting companies like puppets wars, no problem, and GW are WAAAAY more litigious than PP- but you can't copyright an arm socket, so people can manufacture with impunity as long as they are sensible.

~P~

[Lord of ???]

If you are modelling it from scratch and don't do an exact copy and you don't try to profit from it then you are ok.

As it is original work similar to the style of a PP model.


Most companies are quite actively supportive of fan art and fan homage's. It's when you start doing them and asking for donations for a project you are working on, that a big legal boot from the sky comes forth.

[Invaderzahn]

You most certainly can do this... Check out this thread: http://privateerpressforums.com/show...n-s-3D-musings

Sense these were done and put on the PP from with out any whiplash for doing it I say its ok just don't sell them by any means.

Hey I recognize that thread :P Seriously though if you are modeling something just because you think its cool and would be fun to model most companies are pretty cool about that. If you're trying to make money off of the IP then that is something else entirely. If you going to put it on a demo reel I'd shoot a PM or Email off to Matt Walton and get permission.

[PPS_Ben]

I agree that your best option is to ask for permission if you intend to reproduce anything beyond a single copy for yourself.

In my personal work that I do for funsies I try to avoid poking the legal grizzly bear.

Do not misconstrue this as legal advice, but in my personal experience I've found that if you ask for permission and are up front with the IP owner about your intentions they tend to be agreeable as long as you are not threatening their business or misrepresenting their IP.

[Deo85]

Keeping your model stylized also will save you from legal trouble. My necrotech is in the form of the odel but the detail on it is different from what you see on the model it self. A trick one of my Art teachers showed up is if you are drawing something that is a 'copy' of a character draw it from a reverse angle and change the features some or the costume there waring add some accessories to it. And yep Invaderzahn it was your thread that got me interested in trying my hands at some Cryx modeling

[Temoinlanuit]

Bad advice. Owners of IP have to protect their IP, otherwise they loose the rights to protect it, so yes, anyone in that situation should do something about it. Ask first. The worst that PP can say is no, then you can certainly use the Bane Knight as inspiration. That being said the folks at PP are rather classy gents and ladies, and will probably either explain why they said no or will say yes.

That explains the legions of amateur Gundam fan art artists getting sued, right?

Oh wait.

Also, no, the situation you described only arises when a product/etc. gets sufficient traction. It doesn't set legal precedence against the IP-holder's favour not to go after some random dude who makes a sketch. Once you ask, it's a paper trail that company was informed of blah blah blah.. same reason why a ton of board game companies post that they don't accept submissions.

OP, look up the dude who make the giant 3d printed Typhon-styled model, it was sick.

Seriously, dudes need to get out of this culture of fear mindstate. Guys are out there making spinoffs of SM Terminators and stuff and selling them commercially, don't be worried about making a cool 3d model that's for fun/coolness.

[Mad_Zerker]

And this...
http://privateerpressforums.com/show...-now-to-paint!

I'd give my left nut for that model. PP you need to hire this guy so I can buy this model.