11 replies to this topic

[Damien Matashy]

I did a little searching and didn't find anything so this question is mainly for the devs because i have always wondered about this.

So Battletech uses a lot of real world company names such as GM and Pontiac and so forth, How does this work for your company do you have get permission from those companies or are they attached to the whole BT license?

Edited by Damien Matashy, 09 November 2011 - 10:21 AM.

[Black Sunder]

Can I name my merc corp Microsoft?

[Ghost]

They were simply shout-outs, little references that do nothing to influence the overall story other than provide a sense of immersion. Fair use allows most of these references as their trademarks are only being used for identification.

[CoffiNail]

Do you think GM is going to complain when they see their company still being kickin so strongly after 1000 years? No negative aspects at all to them

[Sporkosophy]

Black Sunder, on 09 November 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

Can I name my merc corp Microsoft?

Don't forget the '$'.

[wolf on the tide]

Black Sunder, on 09 November 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

Can I name my merc corp Microsoft?

i think the name "stealing bar-steward" is already trade marked

[ELHImp]

Black Sunder, on 09 November 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

Can I name my merc corp Microsoft?

Sure. But don't use mechs, only troopers. If so this name will be "speaking".

[LordKelvin]

I believe that using company names is perfectly fine, it's only when you start getting into specific products that it gets into the vague dark legal areas of licensing. Of course, all of these shout-outs have existed solely as text thus far, albeit for years in the BattleTech source books and such. If any of the companies haven't done anything about it for years, I don't think they'll do anything about it now.

What I'm interested in seeing is, what happens if these companies go bankrupt? We all saw how close GM came to doing so not three years ago, it would be hilarious but also egg-on-face-worthy.

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

There's a reason my Highlander is Built Ford Tough.

[Damien Matashy]

it has just been a thought in my head, because most compines throw a fit if you use there name with out permission.

[CoffiNail]

Maybe most of those big companies CEOs play BT and are happy to have their company names in it

[Jack Gallows]

As long as the unit I'm in isn't called Enron....