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Can I use car names in my game?
Yes, you absolutely have to get permission for existing brands. This is a matter of copyright, as well as trademark law. In order to “brand” cars in your game, you would need the actual logos and associated branding for those vehicles.
Are car names copyrighted?
You mean you want to trademark it, not copyright it. Trademarks protect brand names, such as your club’s name or a car maker’s brand name.
Can you copyright a club name?
Yes, clubs can be protected under trademark law, and any materials that identify your club to the public can be trademarked with the USPTO. For example, “IMPERIALS CAR CLUB” is a registered trademark. You may also trademark any logos or slogans associated with the club.
Can I trademark my name?
But a trademark can be a word, phrase, letter, number, sound, scent, logo, shape, packaging or picture. “If you have a business or you are a brand in yourself such as an entertainer or sporting star, you may apply for a trademark on goods and services to protect your brand to protect them from similar businesses.
How do I protect my business name?
Trademark. A trademark can protect the name of your business, goods, and services at a national level. Trademarks prevent others in the same (or similar) industry in the United States from using your trademarked names.
Can you use a car name in a game?
Yes. Their names, logos, and body designs are all trademarked and cannot be used in any capacity outside those explicitly allowed by trademark law, which almost certainly excluded use in your game.
Can you use real car brands in game?
As @Sean suggests, trying to go with real branding can be a nightmare, and is unlikely to serve you well. An alternative is to use fairly true-to-life models, but omit any branding and use your own alternative names for the vehicles.
Do you need a license to use real car brands?
Strive to be unique so your game can stand in its own rather than be compared to games with tens of millions of dollars put into them. As @Sean suggests, trying to go with real branding can be a nightmare, and is unlikely to serve you well.
Do you need a license to use cars in your game?
And expect to be completely incapable of acquiring those licenses for reasonable terms, as the licenses are generally very expensive and come with a mile long list of stipulations. Even though you will be paying them, the companies will be seeing your game as another advertisement for their cars.