When does parody cross into coypright problems?

Need a little advice on this topic as I know that we can't use copyrighted content for AE arcs, but what about ripping on tv shows out there?

Basically it was a silly idea for an arc about reality TV gone bad, complete with an Elite boss named "bridezilla" (Yes I was REALLY bored at work this week) Or a ghost hunters spoof with malta sapper allies (Cookie for anyone who guesses why )

Just don't want to step over that line and cause any issues with copyright infringement, any chance it might be doable?

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I would think if you change the names - even if they are obvious rip-offs of the original - and don't exactly duplicate costumes (assuming they have one) then I don't see a problem with it. After all, Mad Magazine has been doing it for decades.

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Or a ghost hunters spoof with malta sapper allies (Cookie for anyone who guesses why )


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Because their sapping backpack gun looks like a ghostbuster's backpack?

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Or a ghost hunters spoof with malta sapper allies (Cookie for anyone who guesses why )


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Because their sapping backpack gun looks like a ghostbuster's backpack?

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Naw...it's because you become a ghost after seeing one of these jerks

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To be defined as parody, there has to be an intent at humor that satisfies the purpose of the parody.

If I write an adventure based on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, it's funny to see that in CoX, but is it largely humor or largely an adventure? Because P&P&Z is both, it is difficulty to defend as parody and more likely an attempt to cash in on an intriguing license.

In order for it to be a parody, I need to have no names the same, no direct references (subtlety is key), and no like purpose (I shouldn't make a comedy-survival-horror story out of a comedy-survival-horror story).

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[ QUOTE ]
Need a little advice on this topic as I know that we can't use copyrighted content for AE arcs, but what about ripping on tv shows out there?

Basically it was a silly idea for an arc about reality TV gone bad, complete with an Elite boss named "bridezilla" (Yes I was REALLY bored at work this week) Or a ghost hunters spoof with malta sapper allies (Cookie for anyone who guesses why )

Just don't want to step over that line and cause any issues with copyright infringement, any chance it might be doable?

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I say just do it and do a good job. If someone does not like it, you will know. Have fun. Be creative. Be original. Be happy.

You did not really need me to tell you that, but I'm hoping to be told when I can play it!

Good luck

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On Guardian!
Mike Halo
& a few dozen others.

Our SG: Stars of Paragon

Fiction: Training Day

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Just don't want to step over that line and cause any issues with copyright infringement, any chance it might be doable?

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No. http://boards.cityofvillains.com/showfla...=2#Post13300922

"Code of Conduct Reminders:
NCsoft has the right to ban any mission that violates the Rules of Conduct or User Agreement.
...
Parodies and derivative works are not allowed."

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I would think if you change the names - even if they are obvious rip-offs of the original - and don't exactly duplicate costumes (assuming they have one) then I don't see a problem with it. After all, Mad Magazine has been doing it for decades.

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That was my thought. My arc "Daytime Divas" lampoons daytime TV. Your contact is Tonya Tanks, and the victim of the whole thing is Opera Belfry.

In another of my arcs, "Time's Maelstrom", I have had one complaint about content but there were no details. I think it might have to do with one of the villains, named Tick. Not "The Tick", and doesn't have a spot of blue on his costume, nor does he sport antennae. He's not a parody of The Tick at all, he's an original character of mine from pen-and-paper Champions. But I can't think of any other reason somebody would report the arc for content.

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If you follow the rules specifically its going to be No, however I very much doubt that your Parody will get you in much trouble.

[sarcasm]
Though you never know. They may delete all your Charactors and Perma-Ban your account.
[/sarcasm]

And I want some cookies:
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Or a ghost hunters spoof with malta sapper allies (Cookie for anyone who guesses why )


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Could it be that when 'ghosts' manifest they draw energy from the area around them ie. Sapper like?

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Favorite Hero: Computer (Empathy/Energy Blast Defender)

Favorite Villain: Gimp Computer (Fire Control/Psionic Assault Dominator)

"Parodies and derivative works are not allowed."

Further proof nobody reads the EULA: Niviene sort of made the above up. The word "parody" does not appear in either the EULA or the code of conduct. Closest is a vague ban on uploading or transmitting other people's copyrighted materials without permission. (Bonus trivia: the EULA grants permission to make non-profit derivative works of CoH/V game content, so parodies of CoH/V itself are OK!)

Anyway, the literary definition of "parody" is much broader than the legalese definition. Yours is a literary parody, humor by imitation -- imitation of a genre (unscripted television), not a single work, still counts under the broad literary definition. Niviene mentions "parodies" in a more legalese sense. I read "no parodies or derivative works" as meaning "no derivative works, even obvious fair use such as derivative works that are parodies." That legalese definition seems narrowly concerned only with copyright no-nos.

So, if yours is a parody under the broad literary definition (humor by imitation), that alone isn't enough to get in trouble. (Otherwise Circuit Boy's "world's worst pick up group" LGTF parody arc would be toast!) Just as long as it's not something a legally untrained GM might think is a copyright no-no. To avoid copyright no-nos, changing names, costumes, etc., is a good start. (Avoiding copyright infringement is a different task entirely, but no need to go down that road.)

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"Parodies and derivative works are not allowed."

Further proof nobody reads the EULA: Niviene sort of made the above up.

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Niviene was just the messenger, I'm fairly sure it was "made up" higher than that. It's a new MA-specific rule, in order to have less gray areas left to the discretion of the GMs, and has nothing to do with the EULA.

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Character index

Whoever made it up, presenting a "code of conduct reminder" for something that isn't in the code of conduct is telling. It's industry-wide: nobody takes EULAs seriously, producers or consumers.

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At this point AE is a self-parody.

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Infinity and Victory mostly
dUmb, etc.
lolz PvP anymore, Market PvP for fun and profit

Totally agree with Rigel here. (Not to mention if you go to that link you can click on the Rules of Conduct and "the agreement" and you won't find the world parody at all. )

Just write your parody and if someone complains, fix it.

Also, there was a terrible attempt at defining parody above. If you want a quick easy example of parody, try googling up Mad magazine or grab one at the local newstand.

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