12 replies to this topic

[Namwons]

I thought "mechs" were a copywrite of the Mechwarrior franchise. Wouldnt it be illegal to use this term in there game? Im just wondering btw?

[Joseph Mallan]

Depends on if they are called BATTLEmechs or not.

[Walk]

Mech is an abbreviated word:mechanized. It is often used, and is not reserved(or even used first by) mechwarriors. As Joseph above me said, if you get more specific and say battlemechs or battletech, that's another story.

Edited by Walk, 13 December 2012 - 11:46 AM.

[Bloody Moon]

Indeed, trashcans would be a better term for those walking abominations, but then it would offend the Urbie.

[Lonestar1771]

Only thing keeping me from playing hawken is that their Mech designs are hideous, but it probably has everything to do with copyright and if MS and Harmony Gold don't own the rights, then Bandai does.

[stjobe]

Lonestar1771, on 13 December 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

their Mech designs are hideous

I can only agree with this. I haven't played the game and have no interest in doing so, but from the videos I've seen their mechs are fuglier than an explosion in a fugly factory.

[Ransack]

There are MECHanical pew pew machines in that game, yes. Are they Battlemechs, not by a long shot.

[Leetskeet]

Slightly larger exosuits

[MeiSooHaityu]

As much as I like the feel and vibe of Hawken, those mechs are terrible looking.

I know the whole idea is they are supposed to be assembled from parts (sort of Frankenstein'd together), but not a single variant I seen looks descent.

P.S. most companies seem to avoid using the term "Mech" so it seems. I know Earthseige called them "Hercs" and Front Mission calls them "Wanzers". I think most companies try and play it safe by calling mechs something else.

[Eric the Inappropriate]

For the record: You can't have copyrights on a word. Copyrights refer to the right to copy and reproduce, and if you could have copyright on a word no one could write it without prior permission.

You can trademark words though, which is the rights to sell a certain category of products under a particular label. Trademarks can be lost though general adoption, and it's possible this has happened to Mech if the term was ever trademarked at all that is. I think it happened to Rollerblades.

Copy-writing is something else entirely.

[Ranger207]

FASA has (or had...) 'Mech trademarked - notice the apostraphe. For reference, here's Sarna's download of the old Davion housebook; there is a trademark notice at the bottom of page six: http://sarna.s3.amaz...ouse_davion.pdf

[bug3at3r]

I like the TV mech.

I named mine Philips.

[Adrienne Vorton]

actually i tried hawken for 10 minutes...and no...they don´t have mechs, they have ugly as hell bunches of scrap metal...
there is actually only 1 of those "omg take this off my FoV" protomechs that i´d consider "okay"...

btw..i hate the gameplay, just as i thought^^ and UE3....well it had it´s days i guess

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 13 December 2012 - 02:11 PM.