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View Full Version : Info on Copyright Issues for Designing Spaceships?

GothTropic411
08-05-2009, 11:33 PM
I'm totally into 80's/90's kitbash movie spaceships and I want to design one of my own before I start to model it into the computer. However: How does one take an SF design and make something their own without directly copying it from someone else? I plan to create some 3D models and I don't want to infringe on copyright. How do you approach this?

On another note, how does one design a ship without having to go through design school first(I'm an English major, go figure)? I know about silhouettes and whatever, but I'm just not sure how to approach basic vehicle design. If you can direct me sites/tutorials I'll be very happy.

Thanks in Advance,
GothTropic411
bonestructure
08-14-2009, 04:09 PM
Well, as far as spaceships, you don't want your to duplicate famous ships like Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica and so forth.

As far as pure design, the best advice I can give you is to think about your ships. What do they need? Engines, fuel, crew quarters, control bridge, hallways, storage, etc. No, you don't need to show those things, but your exterior has to reflect the needs of the ship and where those things are placed.

Function is also a consideration. If your ship enters the atmosphere and lands, it needs something of an aerodynamic design. If the ship stays in space, never entering an atmosphere, it can be any shape you imagine so long as it's somewhat logical insofar as construction. I once designed a spaceship based on the Kabbalah. You can use anything you want.
sundialsvc4
09-09-2009, 11:35 PM
INAL, but I suspect that if your design is not "obviously a knock-off of" any well-known ship (which would of course make you a "L0053R D00D..."), you'll probably be okay. At the very least you could claim "innocent infringement" if any lawyers came a'callin' (they won't...).

So... get out there and design a spaceship! :bounce: It does not make the slightest bit of difference what you majored-in in college, or for that matter (sorry...) even that you went there. Just crank up your digital software of choice and start kit-bashing something that looks like it might somehow fly.
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09-09-2009, 11:35 PM
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