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indie game dev. vs LucasArts - legal dillema

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The subject is old, but I'm getting back to it as I recently spoke to a game developer about his new project.
He already made a few very addictive text-based (or should I say: roguelike) games so far and we wanted more.
He was fishing out ideas from a forum and one of them was making a game set in Star Wars universe. He said he loved the idea, but was really worried about legal issues. So far all his games are freeware and I assumed this for this new game as well, but he replied that even fan-made games used to be "killed" by LucasArts (LEC) and that he doesn't want to receive "Cease and Desist" letter from them.

I fully understand this - the franchise can be sometimes a curse - but on the other hand I started to wonder, how is it possible that LFL is actually (and recently this is even stronger visible on the official website) encouraging making fan-made content, such as movies... or how such a popular game like Star Wars Combine could survive for years without being closed by LFL/LEC.

Since we have some lawyers here on the forum I'd like to hear their opinion on this matter. Is this guy exaggerating? Is it possible to create a very popular free fan-made game and don't get own website shut down? Or is there no real possibility to accomplish that because of license regulations? What fan content is acceptable then? Are there any "walkarounds"?
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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IANAL, but I seem to remember LucasArts quashing some Monkey Island fan games a few years ago. If they'll send Cease and Desists to someone for playing with an essentially abandoned property, imagine what they'll do to people playing in the Star Wars universe. Maybe nothing. Maybe something awful.
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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Yeah, that's exactly what we agreed upon with this guy, but I'm asking - then what about fan-made content that is accepted? What may be accepted then and what can't? Why "Pink Five" movie is OK, even if it uses original movie material being edited-in? Why "Star Wars Online" game thrives?

Would a proper disclaimer including the proper copyright and trademark information (Star Wars(TM)(R) and Ackbar(TM) and Alderaan(TM) and Bacta(TM) and Bothan(TM)..... and Zaarin(TM) are the trademarks of LFL.... etc., you know ) help in any way?
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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IANAL, but unless you are profiting from the Star Wars universe or taking known characters out of established arcs then I don't think I would be dissuaded.

However, just as Lucas could not secure the Flash Gordon rights so went on to make Star Wars ... perhaps if you create your own universe drawing inspiration from several other sources, you will have something more interesting that won't rely on an existing fan-base for pats on the back? Or perhaps you should approach Lucasarts and see if they are interested in doing the donkey-work of creating the game and you might get some recognition from the industry?

Reach for the stars. You might not get one, but you'll come up with more than a handful of mud.
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IANAL, but I think you'll be okay going the independent route as long as no money whatsoever is made. Don't even accept donations. I've seen a number of small independent Star Wars games that were freeware.

Scope may have something to do with it too. If you have a small game that feels small, with a limited number of levels, I think that'd be okay. But if you have a huge game with awesome, professional-looking graphics, you might have some problems as you'd be seen as competing with Lucasarts.

I doubt Lucasarts would accept any contributions from a "nobody". That's not an insult to you, but reflects the way they would see anyone not established in the game industry.

You know of the rebellion against the Empire?

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They won't accept "any unsolicited material", we've already discussed this here on the forum, I gave the quote from LEC website.

Miker71, I know that you wrote that with good intentions, but if you look at it from another point of view, it's just as if you told all those people dissatisfied with OOT release on DVD "Guys, if you're so upset, why don't you buy some other sci-fi movie, like Star Trek or Forbidden Planet?" Besides, I'm not a big sci-fi fan.

Erik, you know what - if this game was to be made and if we had decided to use graphical interface I'd ask you for permission to use Engli-Besh.

Damn, this sucks, I can't buy good SW game (because they don't make great SW games anymore) nor I can make my own... yet another thing that tells me to close the book entitled "Star Wars", put it on a shelf and never open it again.
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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(I'm new here)

If you and your friend wants to make a star wars roguelike (for example, a Jedi mod for nethack), I think it's safe to say that it should fly under LFL's radar for better or for worse. In fact, from memory, it seems that any effect under a full-blown 3D game shouldn't pose a problem...even 2D graphic adventures.
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LOL, and now my problems are reversed: I think I found a way to be legal and have the SW game I wanted all the time. But it looks like this programmer dumped that idea long time ago and doesn't want to think about making SW game again. Go figure.

Remember that warehouse from the last scene of "Raiders..."? This is where I have to store this idea...
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...