Can you use gun names in video games?

TL;DR – No, you can’t use official names of guns, in your game, without a license to do so.

Are guns in video games copyrighted?

Game companies have to pay a royalty to use real guns in their games. For a number of reasons, many games have created their own guns that are basically the same as real-life guns but don’t use the real-world name.

Are gun designs copyrighted?

Yes. First of all, brand names are not copyright issues, they are trademarks. Second, the main issue with trademarks is that you don’t do something that could be construed as costing the trademark holder money.

Is Kalashnikov copyrighted?

Moscow: The Russian manufacturer of Kalashnikov assault rifles has applied to register a word trademark of the world’s best-known weapon, the AK-47, including for toys, media reported today in Moscow citing court documents.

Is ak47 public domain?

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.

Is there copyright on gun names?

The names of products are not protected by copyright. They are protected by trademark, which prevents use by competing companies. A book is not competition to a gun manufacturer.

Are gun designs patented?

Gun patents are intellectual property rights issued to inventors of firearms. They are granted to prevent others from making and selling the patented guns for a limited time frame.

What gun did Activision remove?

Warzone and Modern Warfare fans were left baffled after the RAAL LMG was removed in the Season 6 update.

Who owns AK-47 rights?

Kalashnikov Concern

Native name	АО Концерн Калашников
Owner	Rostec (51\%) Private investors (49\%)
Number of employees	5,930 (2015)
Parent	Rostec
Divisions	Kalashnikov Baikal Izhmash

Why do gun companies make deals with video games?

According to Lalla, having real brands in games enriches the fantasy worlds game makers create. And for companies like Barrett Firearms, there’s also value to making a deal, though Vaughn says it isn’t for the money — it’s “for the recognition or any potential advertising availability.”

Are guns in video games legally distinct?

Licensing agreements protect game companies from being sued for trademark infringement—a threat that the 2011 change to their status effectively neutralized. Legally speaking, depicting a gun in a game is no different than depicting a spatula. But gaming companies want to create the idea that guns are legally distinct.

Can a game use a brand name of a gun?

If a game wanted to use a recognizable, trademarked design or a brand name of gun, it would need permission. The same was true for vehicles, recognizable landmarks, or other kinds of weapons.

How do game companies get guns without copyright?

Game companies submit virtual guns to intellectual-property lawyers, either internally or at outside firms. Lawyers view images of real guns and how altered versions will appear in the game, recommending changes so that guns are recognizable but don’t meet the standard for infringement.