Concerned about reusing a mechanic for a game idea

[FanzotheBanzo]

Yesterday, I've posted a forum BBS on Newgrounds about the reason why I was feeling worried about that, but since I've gotten no replies from that thread, I've come here to see what your answers might be, when I retell you my worries about it.

You see, the mechanic that involved a choice (conduct the train or fight the creepy crawly on it) in between the player and an NPC was planned for a mature (possibly official, as I wasn't fully aware of the entertainment company's actions at the time) successor to Epic Mickey called "Epic Toony" with my personification of the Toon Disney logo as the namesake and protagonist of the game.

You see, I'm thinking about reusing that mechanic in my recent idea, Bubsy '07.

It's not really a big deal on the surface, until you find out that Disney have been copying artists without their permission, like I did through YouTube (two videos are exampled below this sentence).



That's what's causing my worry, it being that if Disney themselves found out about the piece of unused content, which I've planned to be "official", they'll send me a C&D letter and then potentially patent that game mechanic, whenever they wanted to, so nobody else would use it for themselves.

Any solution to the problem, guys?

[Master]

I don't think randoms on a forum are likely to have any legal background to give an informed and proper answer on this...but this sounds like a fangame. So I'd be inclined to say (in my completely uninformed opinion)...sounds like you should be fine?

Fangames are a bit of a grey area, but more often than not, unless it's a Nintendo game, they don't tend to take much notice or care. Unless you're planning on monetising what you're doing, in which case yeah, that's an obvious no-no as you're making money off a property you don't own.

[FanzotheBanzo]

I don't think randoms on a forum are likely to have any legal background to give an informed and proper answer on this...but this sounds like a fangame. So I'd be inclined to say (in my completely uninformed opinion)...sounds like you should be fine?

Fangames are a bit of a grey area, but more often than not, unless it's a Nintendo game, they don't tend to take much notice or care. Unless you're planning on monetising what you're doing, in which case yeah, that's an obvious no-no as you're making money off a property you don't own.

Oh, I'll consider asking someone with a proper legal background next time, but thanks for replying!

[Nancy78]

It's like Master says. I understand your concern, it is a thing to worry about, but Disney is not Nintendo. If it was Nintendo, you could even fear a strike from them because you're using their property, but as things are with your idea, which I think will make a very fun game, you should be okay.

Fangames that aren't for sale are a vast field, you can do whatever and companies shouldn't have problems with it. There are right owners who allow monetizing such games - like ZUN from Team Shanghai Alice - but he's one in the ocean of many who don't.

Then again, people who are making the remake of Mother 1 should fear what they're doing even more than you do, but they don't, so just go with your idea. It should be all fine :3