Are There Any Copyright Restrictions Related to the Characters/Planets/Parts in KSP?

[Irreversible Extents]

Note: I wasn't sure if this was the right place to post this. Please notify me if there is a better location for questions like this to be posted.

I was wondering if Squad had any restrictions based on the use of the names of Kerbals, the Planets, or the names of the parts in the game. Like if anyone were to write an unofficial story about the wonderful adventures our favorite little green men, or maybe a short film about them (like Matt Lowne's in-game-created movies), even if it isn't taken directly from the game (in the form of screenshots or screen-captured video clips).

Based directly on intuition, I would assume you can reference the stuff from the game without any trouble, just remembering to credit Squad in any credit rolls.

[JebIsBestPilot]

I am not a copyright person, and I know nothing about this, but I think you should be ok if you credit devs.

[Caerfinon]

The Wiki supports your intuition that a credit is probably acceptable (see: https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Kerbal_Space_Program_Wiki:Copyrights ) but that it is not a legal opinion.

The EULA that covers the game (see: https://www.take2games.com/eula/ ) has a specific "USER CREATED CONTENT" section which details how you grant nearly complete rights to your content to the company absent a contract that states otherwise. I suspect that they would enforce if you attempted to monetize your creations.

You are generally covered by copyright "fair use" (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use )  depending on these 4 factors; 

 

Quote

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work

 

 

[JebIsBestPilot]

well thanks i guess now i know something i dont need to know  because i dont do KSP content i do minecraft but ksp is fun

[idonotwantadisplayname]

is the speies of kerbals something that is copyrighted thing