Video Game Movie Rights

[Sterling Silva]

I want to make a short about a popular video game from the old NES. Two part question.

 

1) Whom do I contact, what rights do I ask for and how much should it cost?

 

2) Shorts don't ever make money, will this affect question 1?

 

Thanks,

-Sterling

[Patrick McGowan]

3) Which game?

 

4) Please don't.

[Mark Allen]

I want to make a short about a popular video game from the old NES. Two part question.

 

1) Whom do I contact, what rights do I ask for and how much should it cost?

 

2) Shorts don't ever make money, will this affect question 1?

 

Thanks,

-Sterling

 

 

"about" is a big word. If you're making a spoof of the game, you're in luck because parody is a protected right. If you're making a documentary - similar. If you're making a movie that is set in the world of the game.... you're getting into a tricky situation.

 

Not to say the obvious, but you'd want to contact nintendo and as for cost... either it's going to be incredibly expensive or free. So you're going to ask them if you can use the elements for a short project. That's if you need to ask them.

 

Read this for more info: http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/

[Eric Dinger]

I don't think you'd contact nintendo in every case, I would try to contact the publisher of the game.

[Mark Allen]

I don't think you'd contact nintendo in every case, I would try to contact the publisher of the game.

 

Actually, Nintendo would be the publisher if it were an NES game, no? But, it's true you might need to contact the developer of the game and Nintendo would not be the end-all in every case. But it's a place to start.