Question 1: If I make a game that uses Tetris/Pacman/Pong etc. gameplay but change the title, graphics and sound, will I legaly be able to sell the game commercially? Question 2: Can I make a commercial game using Sherlock Holmes as the main character without getting legal problems? (as far as I know copyrights are maintained for 70 years after the author is dead, and it is now 76 years since A. Conan Doyle died)

Quote: Original post by sorenbuus
Question 1: If I make a game that uses Tetris/Pacman/Pong etc. gameplay but change the title, graphics and sound, will I legaly be able to sell the game commercially?

Question 2: Can I make a commercial game using Sherlock Holmes as the main character without getting legal problems?

(as far as I know copyrights are maintained for 70 years after the author is dead, and it is now 76 years since A. Conan Doyle died)

Question 1:
I'm pretty sure you'd need to do slightly more than that to get away with it but, yes the idea of that gameplay is not protected.

Question 2:
No. I'm not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure that he sold the copyright before he died or transfered it to a longer lasting entity.