New Forum - Banner Design Request?

[Saladin]

Hello. My name is Saladin and I created a forum for the purpose of creating a RolePlaying forum geared towards StarCraft, and even its sequel. It is known as The Koprulu Sector. I thought I would make this thread to request help from this board and I hope I did this correctly, but anytime someone is available to create a banner, I would appreciate it and try to find a way to credit you when it is done on the site. I am currently in the middle of other business right now, but I will review it whenever the chance arrives.

My forum: The Koprulu Sector

These are the images that I can offer:



I hope you can help. I have been trying to figure out how to make them look "forum-worthy" with gimp and somehow, I haven't quite figured that out yet. I hope they are good enough for a forum banner.

[Tumbleweed]

Jun 11, 2017 22:50:14 GMT -8 Saladin said:

Hello. My name is Saladin and I created a forum for the purpose of creating a RolePlaying forum geared towards StarCraft, and even its sequel. It is known as The Koprulu Sector. I thought I would make this thread to request help from this board and I hope I did this correctly, but anytime someone is available to create a banner, I would appreciate it and try to find a way to credit you when it is done on the site. I am currently in the middle of other business right now, but I will review it whenever the chance arrives.

My forum: The Koprulu Sector

These are the images that I can offer:



I hope you can help. I have been trying to figure out how to make them look "forum-worthy" with gimp and somehow, I haven't quite figured that out yet. I hope they are good enough for a forum banner.

Saladin , I'm sorry but those images are all copyrighted. You might want to check with Blizzard Entertainment and read their copyright info as they may let non-profits use their images but I kind of doubt it since they have their copyright stuff all over the images. Otherwise, you are going to have to find some other images to use. You could check Deviant Art as you might find something there. Otherwise, I'm not sure where to tell you to go but I will tag Kami as she is a graphic artist and I know she mentioned at one time where she goes for stock images.

[Kami]

Blizzard has an FAQ about their intellectual property and states

What is Blizzard Entertainment's® copyright/trademark policy for the Internet, specifically for fansites? Can I use Blizzard Entertainment's® images, text or sound on my web page? Is it ok if I use screenshots I take in-game on my web page?

Yes, within certain limits. We asked our legal department to provide some guidelines for you, and here is what they said:

Blizzard Entertainment® hereby grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable and non- assignable license to use and display, for home, noncommercial and personal use only, one copy of any material and/or software that you may download from this site, including, but not limited to, any files, codes, audio or images incorporated in or generated by the software (collectively the "Downloaded Content") provided, however, that you must include or maintain all copyright and other notices contained or associated with such Downloaded Content. You acknowledge and agree that you may not sublicense, assign or otherwise transfer this license or the Downloaded Content and that no title to the Downloaded Content has been or will be transferred to you from Blizzard Entertainment® or anyone else. You also agree that you will not alter, disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer or otherwise modify the Downloaded Content.

Also, we reserve the right to revoke this limited use license at any time, for any reason, and at the sole discretion of Blizzard Entertainment®. You may not use our materials on sites that feature defamatory pornographic, or inflammatory content, including, but not limited to, hacks and cheats for any of our games or any other content that Blizzard Entertainment® find objectionable or unlawful.

Standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

What my interpretation of this is, as long as you keep the copyright notices intact, you're welcome to use Blizzard's content without alterations. However this is super ugly from a design aspect, so my suggestion is to go a bit more generic image-wise and make it more obviously starcraft in your banner by invoking the themes and *generic* style of the game. Something like "The Koprulu Sector" with the subtext "An unofficial, fan-run [name of the world] Roleplay". I would avoid using the actual title in the image, as well, so if you could do something like (this example is from Dragon Age), "Blah Blah - An Unofficial, fan-run Thedas roleplay" that would be better. Another solution could be to seek out a Starcraft fan artist and obtain their permission to use one of their fanworks, though the disclaimers should still be used.

I would also make sure you include the proper Copyright Notices on your forum as per Blizzard's terms of use on every page of your forum, as well as a notice that you are NOT affiliated with Blizzard, Battle.Net, Starcraft, or any other related franchise / content.

[Saladin]

I just looked at the images... Good point, I'll try to find more generic art that doesn't have official Blizzard Copyright notices. Yeah, technically this site could go commercial and I now start to see that this could go ugly. I'll let you know when I find something better.

[Kami]

Jun 12, 2017 3:23:32 GMT -8 Saladin said:

I just looked at the images... Good point, I'll try to find more generic art that doesn't have official Blizzard Copyright notices. Yeah, technically this site could go commercial and I now start to see that this could go ugly. I'll let you know when I find something better.

Ummmm I recommend you peruse that legal page further:

Can I make and sell my own products (T-shirts, card games, models/figures, etc.) based on a Blizzard universe?

No. Blizzard Entertainment® does not enter into licensing agreements with individuals. To ensure the quality of all Blizzard products, all of our merchandise is created under a licensing agreement and all prospective licensees are thoroughly reviewed by Blizzard Entertainment before a license is granted.

While a forum would not be a physical product, if you commericalise it it would become a very big problem. Again, standard 'I'm not a lawyer' disclaimer but it may be more trouble than it's worth to make a commercial fansite (regardless of whether or not it's an 'original' content offshoot), as per:

Can I write novels, screenplays, theatrical productions or other adaptations based on your games?

No. Blizzard Entertainment® reserves the right to extend and expand our properties to other media. We want to provide a consistent story and universe for our customers, and want to ensure that only the highest quality, officially licensed and approved material is created based on our characters and other creative properties.

Obviously not being affiliated w/ Blizzard I can't say how they'd feel about an RP forum. My guess is that since the above adaptation examples are for-profit, then the problem would occur once your RP goes commercial.

Again, none of this is legal advice, and I am not a lawyer. If you want specific legalities please contact a qualified professional or speak directly to Blizzard.

[Saladin]

Oh, I see it. Well, let me rephrase that, I am not trying to exactly gain a profit from it. It is possible it might start running on donations to keep it going, but if somehow it was getting monetized, that would be a problem, so what would I do about the banner art? You have any clue as for what to do? I don't wanna get sued by blizzard before the forum goes anywhere. It's not using any of blizzard's official art at this minute, just letting you know. At this point, the main question is, what about the site? It's about to get new members invited in any day now. I can't just close the forum.

[Kami]

Jun 13, 2017 17:20:54 GMT -8 Saladin said:

Oh, I see it. Well, let me rephrase that, I am not trying to exactly gain a profit from it. It is possible it might start running on donations to keep it going, but if somehow it was getting monetized, that would be a problem, so what would I do about the banner art? You have any clue as for what to do? I don't wanna get sued by blizzard before the forum goes anywhere. It's not using any of blizzard's official art at this minute, just letting you know. At this point, the main question is, what about the site? It's about to get new members invited in any day now. I can't just close the forum.

Again: not legal advice, I'm not a lawyer, etc.

I wouldn't take any money to keep your forum running, personally. 'Commercial' is a relatively broad term and I am unaware of whether or not something would be legally 'commercial use' if one took donations to keep it running.

As far as the banner art and keeping the site open, I think as long as you avoid making any explicit ties to Blizzard or StarCraft, you should be fine -- Blizzard is pretty great about fanart and fan involvement, so having a site based on their stuff isn't inherently bad! It just winds up an issue when you start using their in-game content and making money off of it.

I cannot advise anything else, really. It seems you may be toeing the line with this, so ultimately it's up to your own judgement call. If it does get big, is it worth possibly being issued a Cease & Desist from Blizz?

[Saladin]

Well, it is on Proboards right now and at the moment it is fine, so I really don't need to worry about it. This thing isn't commercial. I am sorry, I said the wrong thing at the wrong time, so I should've posted better. Let's get back to the topic at hand. About the banner, is it better to go to DeviantArt and ask an artist to help? I can do that easy... That is of course, if I had a DeviantArt account, so that might take a bit.

[Kami]

Jun 13, 2017 17:47:42 GMT -8 Saladin said:

Well, it is on Proboards right now and at the moment it is fine, so I really don't need to worry about it. This thing isn't commercial. I am sorry, I said the wrong thing at the wrong time, so I should've posted better. Let's get back to the topic at hand. About the banner, is it better to go to DeviantArt and ask an artist to help? I can do that easy... That is of course, if I had a DeviantArt account, so that might take a bit.

I was simply answering the questions you posed, for whatever it's worth. Whether or not it is on ProBoards is irrelevant; you have to determine yourself if you're ready and willing to deal with Blizzard if something happens, that's all!

As far as the banner, I don't understand what you're asking. If you want to use fanart instead of official art (I'm guessing, since you mentioned deviantArt) then it's up to you. Like, all any of us is trying to say is that if you use images, make sure you have the copyright holder's permission to edit them / have them edited. Where you get them is up to you so long as you make sure it's okay for someone here to make you a banner out of it.

I feel like what you're taking away from this conversation is that your request won't get filled here, which isn't the case. We just aren't allowed to fill requests that violate copyright and terms of use, so just get permission!


EDIT: For whatever it's worth, deviantArt does have a resources section! Here are the resources for the search term space. You may have to adjust the search parameters further. Make sure that the description on each piece states whether or not they can be modified before using (:

[Saladin]

I was simply answering the questions you posed, for whatever it's worth. Whether or not it is on ProBoards is irrelevant; you have to determine yourself if you're ready and willing to deal with Blizzard if something happens, that's all!

I understand that. You are right, I need Blizzard's permission if I was using them officially. Also, before I forget, I do thank you for answering the questions earlier. I didn't know about that before and I am sure I will be alright when I make the site. Here's the thing also, I am not sure how to ask for permission, but if I can e-mail them, asking the artist's permission or Blizzard Entertainment, then I can do that. I'll have to go a few places, but I wouldn't mind trying.

I didn't mean to seem antagonizing, I just didn't want the subject completely derailed, but that is okay, it wasn't and you gave me info on a surprising subject I did not think about before I made the thread. I will look into it. By the way, yes, I am willing to deal with Blizzard Entertainment if I have to. This site is important to me, as well as two other moderators who are helping out as well.

As far as the banner, I don't understand what you're asking. If you want to use fanart instead of official art (I'm guessing, since you mentioned deviantArt) then it's up to you.

I will start off with using fan-art though. It sounds like it is easier to deal with, so that is my official answer.

[Kami]

There are a plethora of places you can go to for fanart; deviantArt is one of them. In order to ask permission, just contact the original poster of the image -- make sure they're the original poster, as well, if you don't know how to do a reverse image search here is some info; use this to make sure that the person you are contacting is the original poster.

(As a side note: Blizzard will not officially grant you permission to use their content. They're not allowed to, because they're not allowed to read fanworks / fan ideas for legal reasons. Again, please read the legal page fully as that question is answered.)

[Saladin]

Thank you Kami and Tumbleweed.