KSP comic for a newspaper

[Scorpi15]

(I don't know where this needs to be, because it is KSP related but not about the game itself, so I am putting it here)

I am part of a school newspaper and I made a comic on KSP [read: explosions and stuff] and I was wondering, do I need any permission from squad to do so? It will be a free newspaper, if that info is relevant. Does it need to have 'all rights reserved Squad' on it? If I do need permission then where can I get it?

[alaskafish]

Go ahead. As long as you credit Squad. Since it's non profitable newspaper you're not making any money using things from Squad. And you bring people to the KSP community. Win win.

[Pursuedtank]

I would wait until you got some official guidance, you could try contacting squad directly, I remember not long ago, someone tried to make a small game but had to change things slightly due to copyright problems that could have resulted, they had to change Jebediah to Jedebiah for instance.

[satcharna]

It's only against the law if you directly use assets from the game itself.

[FITorion]

these guys made an online comic... I don't see a difference in online/newspaper...

http://www.kerbalcomics.com/2012/12/17/episode-17-revolutionary-technology/

[bogpad]

Even if I don't think it would be really necessary in this case, I'd propably ask SQUAD anyway, just to be sure, and besides that, I sure think that you will post a scan from said comic (if it airs)!

[Capt'n Skunky]

Kerbal Comics received permission from Squad. One of the stipulations was the message you see in the footer. Try an email to [email protected]

Cheers

[Scorpi15]

Which email should I send it to? the press, info or support email? I just sent it to the press one.

[Theory5]

(just to preface this, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. What I say does not constitute legal advice)

I am not sure where Squad is based and has copyright on this game, but in the United States and multiple other countries, you may publish the comic strip in your school news paper as per the Fair Use copyright act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

Under US law:

" 17 U.S.C. § 107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17 U.S.C. § 106 and 17 U.S.C. § 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include:

the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

the nature of the copyrighted work;

the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.[2]"

I believe you fall under the "non-profit" and (stretching it) "educational" sections. As long as you don't charge for the paper, you are fine.

It is however considered good manners to obtain permission from the copyright holder, even though you are legally allowed to do this.