MrX

"You can quote the game all you like, but even Eidos cannot copyright the words "Deus Ex Machina" as they literally mean something and aren't a "name". They can copyright it for a video game, but only a video game." What ever you think that you stated is not what you stated. What you stated was that Eidos could copyright the words for their game and Yamaha for their purposes (even though this is not a Yamaha design at all but the work of a student with no connection to Yamaha) of assigning it to a motorcycle. They would not be copyrighting the words, only the image of the words in a specific logotype. Now, you may be aware of the specifics of the law but your explanation is off base. Anyways, to state any relationship of the motorcycle concept to this game is a mere assumption. Especially given the broad geneology of the phrase. But then people tend to make assumptions founded in their own interests. You say this, I read... Sounds like your repeating yourself! Than you need to learn to read. What he stated was "You can quote the game all you like, but even Eidos cannot copyright the words "Deus Ex Machina" as they literally mean something and aren't a "name". They can copyright it for a video game, but only a video game.". So he says that they can't copyright the phrase, then he says that they can just for the game. What I have explained, several times now, is that the phrase cannot be copyrighted at all but an image of the phrase can be copyrighted. The design of the box cover or the font, style and color etc. So if something was released that even said "Dude's Ex" but it was done in the same style, they may have an infringement case, except in the case of parody. Also, the reason the phrase can't be copyright is not because it means something or it's not a name but because it exists in the public domain. RIF

And totally off topic here but no one throws a bike down intentionally. That is called losing control. Hope your ok tho.

"You can quote the game all you like, but even Eidos cannot copyright the words "Deus Ex Machina" as they literally mean something and aren't a "name". They can copyright it for a video game, but only a video game." What ever you think that you stated is not what you stated. What you stated was that Eidos could copyright the words for their game and Yamaha for their purposes (even though this is not a Yamaha design at all but the work of a student with no connection to Yamaha) of assigning it to a motorcycle. They would not be copyrighting the words, only the image of the words in a specific logotype. Now, you may be aware of the specifics of the law but your explanation is off base. Anyways, to state any relationship of the motorcycle concept to this game is a mere assumption. Especially given the broad geneology of the phrase. But then people tend to make assumptions founded in their own interests.

Thinking more on it now, one could actually copyright a logotype of the phrase or such as the cover of the game box.

Information highway to the rescue! Eido may in fact have Deus Ex copywritten but I beleive the phrase "deus ex machina" is actually public domain. Therefor it could be used by anyone for any purpose and could not be copyrighted by anyone. And also to clear things up about Yamaha. They had nothing to do with this design and the student simply used their branding in his project.

What is your reasoning that he would have to rename it?