Interesting... so you can't have (a blatant copy of) Game & Watch on iPhone, but you can have Game & Watch AC, GTA and MGS on Wii.
Obviously they've made enough of a change to easily count as parodies but the timing is interesting considering they just recently got around to jumping on the iPhone app.
That is the thing a parody has in fact oftentimes been cleared by the people holding the IP rights to what is being parodied. They view the parody as either harmless or free advertising for the real thing.
A blatant copy hasn't been cleared by the IP rights holder and is meant to steal money from the IP rights holder.
@Yetanotheruninspiredscreename: WRONG. IP rights holders don't get a say about parody, parody is protected speech. It's called "fair use" in legal terms. That being said...yes, the G&W iphone app was blatantly infringing on copyrights, because it was a clone, not a parody.
Did wrong people who do something in the name of parody can indeed be sued and the suit be successfull. Parody artists like Weird Al actually seek permission for their songs from the IP holders and if they don't get permission they don't do the song.
Parody isn't free speech nor fair use if you make a profit off of it and if it leads people to be confused the courts can have the parody shut down.
@Yetanotheruninspiredscreename: Al Yankovic didn't lose his suit to Coolio, which, had he lost, he would've lost because he used an unauthorized SAMPLE of Coolio's actual song, not because he created a parody of it.
I was speaking of his seeking permission and if not getting not going through with the song. Led Zeppelein, Paul McCartney, Prince have all refused the permission to create Parodies. Also a song was pulled the Straight Outta Lynwood album since Atlantic Records rescinded permission for the parody of You're Beautiful.
As for Coolio the records company says permission was giving but Coolio says he didn't recall it being given. Hence why royalties are now paid to Coolio.
Still, if a parody is not misleading or infringing on IP, it is considered fair use under American law. Weird Al often uses the same back tracks as the original song, so he could get in trouble for that - that's why song parodies normally sound a bit off key - because they are changing enough notes to differ from the original song.
I'm pretty certain that these handheld-style games will be just fine, I just thought the timing was interesting considering how Nintendo just cracked down on the iPhone clone of Game & Watch games.
Too bad 95% of the entertainment value can be had by looking at the screen shot and getting a chuckle. I suppose this is better than the normal Wii Ware shovelware, but I'm not really sure how.
@MatthewMaldonado: I want to know why this is going to WiiWare? Wouldn't the DS with it's Game and Watch look or DSiWare download service be a better idea?
04/07/09
Obviously they've made enough of a change to easily count as parodies but the timing is interesting considering they just recently got around to jumping on the iPhone app.
04/07/09
That is the thing a parody has in fact oftentimes been cleared by the people holding the IP rights to what is being parodied. They view the parody as either harmless or free advertising for the real thing.
A blatant copy hasn't been cleared by the IP rights holder and is meant to steal money from the IP rights holder.
04/07/09
04/07/09
Did wrong people who do something in the name of parody can indeed be sued and the suit be successfull. Parody artists like Weird Al actually seek permission for their songs from the IP holders and if they don't get permission they don't do the song.
Parody isn't free speech nor fair use if you make a profit off of it and if it leads people to be confused the courts can have the parody shut down.
04/07/09
04/07/09
I was speaking of his seeking permission and if not getting not going through with the song. Led Zeppelein, Paul McCartney, Prince have all refused the permission to create Parodies. Also a song was pulled the Straight Outta Lynwood album since Atlantic Records rescinded permission for the parody of You're Beautiful.
As for Coolio the records company says permission was giving but Coolio says he didn't recall it being given. Hence why royalties are now paid to Coolio.
04/07/09
Still, if a parody is not misleading or infringing on IP, it is considered fair use under American law. Weird Al often uses the same back tracks as the original song, so he could get in trouble for that - that's why song parodies normally sound a bit off key - because they are changing enough notes to differ from the original song.
I'm pretty certain that these handheld-style games will be just fine, I just thought the timing was interesting considering how Nintendo just cracked down on the iPhone clone of Game & Watch games.
04/07/09
04/07/09
I can't see my self buying these since looking at a screenshot is already about 50% of the game.
04/07/09
Also I think Alten8 are missing an 'R' in their name.
04/07/09
*goes back to playing Godfather on the Wii* O.O
04/08/09