If I want to make a freeware plane e.g a T-50, Would I have to get permission from Sukhoi? Cause I really dont want to get into trouble if I start :(.


Renè

Some manufacturers are sensitive especially if it's a current aircraft

Not often problems, but really there is little point in asking anyone other than the manufacturer themselves. :-/

I have heard that there is no real problem with making a plane for FS.  Most Manufacturers wont really care.  The problem lies in painting/texturing it.   If it is going to be a "fictional" paint job, rock on.  But if you were going to do something like a BOEING 757 - DELTA AIRLINES (which you already said you were not, youre wanting a Sukhoi) .... you would have to contact DELTA AIRLINES and get permission from them to use their likeness / design.


BUT!!!!!!!! To err on the side of caution, I would still attempt to contact Sukhoi and ask their permission to use their likeness for a Fictional Paint/Texture for Flight Simulator, and would they put said permission in writing and mail it to you.

The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.  The most realize it is just a sim, and is a compliment that people want to spend the time to recreate their aircraft for it, or at least just don't care.  Gulfstream seems to think it will taint their image, or they would lose control of the rights to it, by having their aircraft modelled.  Either that, or their legal team is just that bored, they want to pick on the little guys that will never be able to afford to fly on one.

Capt.Propwash wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 5:26pm:

I have heard that there is no real problem with making a plane for FS.  Most Manufacturers wont really care.  The problem lies in painting/texturing it.   If it is going to be a "fictional" paint job, rock on.  But if you were going to do something like a BOEING 757 - DELTA AIRLINES (which you already said you were not, youre wanting a Sukhoi) .... you would have to contact DELTA AIRLINES and get permission from them to use their likeness / design. BUT!!!!!!!! To err on the side of caution, I would still attempt to contact Sukhoi and ask their permission to use their likeness for a Fictional Paint/Texture for Flight Simulator, and would they put said permission in writing and mail it to you.

Some airlines have made an issue of it in the past, but you will find that most no longer care, and you see how many versions now exist for any carrier you can imagine.  As I said in my previous post, the only one I would be concerned with is Gulfstream.

Capt.Propwash wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 5:26pm:

BUT!!!!!!!! To err on the side of caution, I would still attempt to contact Sukhoi and ask their permission to use their likeness for a Fictional Paint/Texture for Flight Simulator, and would they put said permission in writing and mail it to you.

I would leave well alone. No point in stirring up trouble where none exists. I can't believe the authors of the large variety of freeware aircraft posted all over the Internet contacted the manufacturers for permission. Payware is different.

DaveSims wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 5:28pm:

The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.  The most realize it is just a sim, and is a compliment that people want to spend the time to recreate their aircraft for it, or at least just don't care.  Gulfstream seems to think it will taint their image, or they would lose control of the rights to it, by having their aircraft modelled.  Either that, or their legal team is just that bored, they want to pick on the little guys that will never be able to afford to fly on one.

Will you be kind enough to post where you saw that? Sounds interesting and I Love reading :-* (although I am picky about what I read, eat e.t.c).
But at least All companies have email adresses :P,


Renè

hyperpep111 wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 5:40pm:

DaveSims wrote on Aug 25th, 2011 at 5:28pm: The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.  The most realize it is just a sim, and is a compliment that people want to spend the time to recreate their aircraft for it, or at least just don't care.  Gulfstream seems to think it will taint their image, or they would lose control of the rights to it, by having their aircraft modelled.  Either that, or their legal team is just that bored, they want to pick on the little guys that will never be able to afford to fly on one. Will you be kind enough to post where you saw that? Sounds interesting and I Love reading :-* (although I am picky about what I read, eat e.t.c). But at least All companies have email adresses :P, Renè

I have seen it happen on other forums for flight sim developers.  There was one on the old Project Opensky forum that was quite well along in the modelling and looking very nice, then he suddenly quit posting about it.  Another member said they had spoke with him, and that he had received a "cease and desist" letter from a law firm representing Gulfstream, stating that the design of the aircraft is copyrighted, and no likenesses of it are to be made without consent from the manufacturer, which no one will get.  It has happened to several other FS designers as well.  It seems any time someone starts talking about doing one, or starts posting screenshots, it suddenly gets shut down. 

DaveSims wrote on Aug 26^th, 2011 at 3:06pm:

hyperpep111 wrote on Aug 25th, 2011 at 5:40pm: DaveSims wrote on Aug 25th, 2011 at 5:28pm: The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.  The most realize it is just a sim, and is a compliment that people want to spend the time to recreate their aircraft for it, or at least just don't care.  Gulfstream seems to think it will taint their image, or they would lose control of the rights to it, by having their aircraft modelled.  Either that, or their legal team is just that bored, they want to pick on the little guys that will never be able to afford to fly on one. Will you be kind enough to post where you saw that? Sounds interesting and I Love reading :-* (although I am picky about what I read, eat e.t.c). But at least All companies have email adresses :P, Renè I have seen it happen on other forums for flight sim developers.  There was one on the old Project Opensky forum that was quite well along in the modelling and looking very nice, then he suddenly quit posting about it.  Another member said they had spoke with him, and that he had received a "cease and desist" letter from a law firm representing Gulfstream, stating that the design of the aircraft is copyrighted, and no likenesses of it are to be made without consent from the manufacturer, which no one will get.  It has happened to several other FS designers as well.  It seems any time someone starts talking about doing one, or starts posting screenshots, it suddenly gets shut down.

That's unfair :(. And it doesn't do much good for them either cause I learn more about planes in fsx


Renè

When I started making my Grob Tutor model (something that I need to start over with and sort out) I went to speak with Grob Aerospace first. I told them that I wanted to make a non-profit aircraft for a game and asked if they had any issues with it. I also asked them if they had any blueprints or other design pans that I might see... Guess what? I got permission and approval and I was sent PDFs of their basic plans and various technical views of the aircraft. In terms of breach of copyright, you should largely be okay so long as it is non-profit. It would most likely come under 'fair use' policies and be seen as a parody of their work, or a derivative. So it should be okay to replicate any aircraft as it is merely deriving from the original design and they probably won't care anyway for secret aircraft as the 'secret bits' would never be made public so they couldn't be injected into the game at all!

The general view is freeware is fine to do whatever you like (otherwise we'd have had George Lucas on our back about X-Wings and things in FS), however payware you do need to discuss with the manufacturer as some don't like you making money on the back of their products. That said I know several people who've got permission on the grounds it is great publicity for their products.
So as long as you're going freeware I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck with getting the data and cockpit photos plus specs, I don't think much is in the public domain but hey I'm sure it'll be fun to fly ;)

ozzy72 wrote on Aug 27^th, 2011 at 7:59am:

The general view is freeware is fine to do whatever you like (otherwise we'd have had George Lucas on our back about X-Wings and things in FS), however payware you do need to discuss with the manufacturer as some don't like you making money on the back of their products. That said I know several people who've got permission on the grounds it is great publicity for their products. So as long as you're going freeware I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck with getting the data and cockpit photos plus specs, I don't think much is in the public domain but hey I'm sure it'll be fun to fly ;)

The Gulfstream projects I am talking about were destined to be freeware.  That however did not stop the company from taking offense, and threatening legal action.  While you may be vindicated in court about it being freeware and public domain, who here has the money and time to fight the system.

Might I refer you to;
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/27/george-lucas-loses-legal-battle-over-star-warsstormtrooper-helmets/

ozzy72 wrote on Aug 27^th, 2011 at 8:21am:

Might I refer you to; http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/27/george-lucas-loses-legal-battle-over-star-warsstormtrooper-helmets/

Where do you get all these articles? :-?  ;D ;D:P


Renè

hyperpep111 wrote on Aug 27^th, 2011 at 2:28pm:

ozzy72 wrote on Aug 27th, 2011 at 8:21am: Might I refer you to; http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/27/george-lucas-loses-legal-battle-over-star-warsstormtrooper-helmets/ Where do you get all these articles? :-?  ;D ;D:P Renè

I never saw that article, but by means of Youtube resources (and IndyMogul backyard effects channel) I was able to see the tutorial videos made by the original armour creator. I believe his channel goes by the name of 'originalstormtrooper' but he has videos on moulding the various helmets and body parts shot in the film. It is worth a look!

What can I say hyperpep but that I read a lot and like an elephant have a monster sized memory.
I'm a demon at ye olde pub quiz.... so much so that whilst playing solo a while back I beat all the "teams", Karen, my friend who owns the pub, banned me from quiz nights ;D ;D ;D

ozzy72 wrote on Aug 27^th, 2011 at 8:45pm:

What can I say hyperpep but that I read a lot and like an elephant have a monster sized memory. I'm a demon at ye olde pub quiz.... so much so that whilst playing solo a while back I beat all the "teams", Karen, my friend who owns the pub, banned me from quiz nights ;D ;D ;D

Mark, they should have added a character based on you to the show Kingdom. It would have been perfect.  ;D

hyperpep111 wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 10:58am:

If I want to make a freeware plane e.g a T-50, Would I have to get permission from Sukhoi? Cause I really dont want to get into trouble if I start :(. Renè

Dang... I wanted to make that for FSX... But I still have the Yak-15 to finish...

ozzy72 wrote on Aug 27^th, 2011 at 8:45pm:

What can I say hyperpep but that I read a lot and like an elephant have a monster sized memory. I'm a demon at ye olde pub quiz.... so much so that whilst playing solo a while back I beat all the "teams", Karen, my friend who owns the pub, banned me from quiz nights ;D ;D ;D

I wouldn't ban you. I would simply bet on you the next time ::) :D. I would So be a millionare 8-).


Renè

Xpand wrote on Aug 28^th, 2011 at 7:24am:

hyperpep111 wrote on Aug 25th, 2011 at 10:58am: If I want to make a freeware plane e.g a T-50, Would I have to get permission from Sukhoi? Cause I really dont want to get into trouble if I start :(. Renè Dang... I wanted to make that for FSX... But I still have the Yak-15 to finish...

Your's would probably be allot better. I am currently attempting to make a circle. And failing. :-[. But if you want to I found Some blueprints that should help [smiley=beer.gif].


Renè