ANY ThOUGHTS ON

[Akashic Soldier]

The company that owns it went bankrupt so even if Palladium wanted to get the rights back they couldnt. Isn't the legal system great?

[kaid]

it is a shame too I always wanted to try it was kinda hoping either it would get apped out to a more modern phone or get an emulator or something for the pc

[Killer Cyborg]

The company that owns it went bankrupt so even if Palladium wanted to get the rights back they couldnt. Isn't the legal system great?

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

[Akashic Soldier]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game. However, because the company is bankrupt it cannot do further business and thus, cannot sell the rights. Ergo... license limbo. It sucks, but thems the breaks.

[Killer Cyborg]

Although, this site states:
RIFTS: Promise of Power © 2005 Palladium Books, Inc. All rights reserved. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation. RIFTS, Promise of Power and character likenesses are trademarks or registered trademarks owned and licensed by Palladium Books, Inc. Developed by Backbone Entertainment.

So the title and characters are trademarked by Palladium.
The game was developed by Backbone Entertainment, who seems to still be in business.
And Nokia owns the rights to "Nokia" and "N-Gage," if that matters (and I don't think it would).

Which makes it look like somebody should own the rights to that game.

[Killer Cyborg]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game.

Or else... what?

[Akashic Soldier]

Or else... what?

Or else you're not legally allowed to produce the property. This happens more often than you might think. And you've got to read what I am saying KC. They company that made it still owns it. They just no longer exist. Technically, within the law even though they no longer exist it is still theirs and thus it cannot be bought back. It sucks, its lame, but its the law.

[Killer Cyborg]

Or else... what?

Or else you're not legally allowed to produce the property.

Right.
So you produce it illegally, and...?

And you've got to read what I am saying KC.

I've read it.
You apparently haven't read what I've said.
Because I already addressed the law that you're taking about, in my initial post, where I said:
If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

I never said that it wouldn't be illegal.
I simply pointed out that there don't seem to be any consequences for breaking that particular law, because it's a civil law, and there's nobody to sue you over it..

Did you catch that this time through?

Because you don't seem to read things as thoroughly as you seem to believe.

They company that made it still owns it. They just no longer exist.

Maybe you missed the other post I made, where I pointed out that it looks like they DO exist...?

[SittingBull]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game. However, because the company is bankrupt it cannot do further business and thus, cannot sell the rights. Ergo... license limbo. It sucks, but thems the breaks.

Sad but true...

[SittingBull]

Or else... what?

Or else you're not legally allowed to produce the property.

Right.
So you produce it illegally, and...?

And you've got to read what I am saying KC.

I've read it.
You apparently haven't read what I've said.
Because I already addressed the law that you're taking about, in my initial post, where I said:
If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

I never said that it wouldn't be illegal.
I simply pointed out that there don't seem to be any consequences for breaking that particular law, because it's a civil law, and there's nobody to sue you over it..

Did you catch that this time through?

Because you don't seem to read things as thoroughly as you seem to believe.

They company that made it still owns it. They just no longer exist.

Maybe you missed the other post I made, where I pointed out that it looks like they DO exist...?

Cant print or produce something without a patent or liscense. Cant get those when they are owned by someone else, even if the owner is lost in Lost.

[The Beast]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game.

Or else... what?

Or else this, duh.

[Killer Cyborg]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game.

Or else... what?

Or else this, duh.

Exactly.

[Killer Cyborg]

Cant print or produce something without a patent or liscense.

Or else...?

[The Beast]

If nobody owns the rights, then nobody can sue anybody for infringing on those rights.
Which means that if Palladium wanted to convert the software into an app or other incodenation, I don't believe that anybody could or would do anything to stop them.

That isn't how the legal system works. The bankrupt company owns the license therefor they must purchase it back from said company to be able to make a new game.

Or else... what?

Or else this, duh.

Exactly.

Sadly though that wasn't my first choice.

[Qev]

Wouldn't a company that's gone through bankruptcy proceedings and no longer in operation have sold its assets in order to pay its creditors? It seems dubious to me that a company would be allowed to take an IP with it into oblivion.

[Comrade Corsarius]

PB has had enough of legal issues surrounding computer games (re: Rift) to last them a lifetime, methinks.

[Akashic Soldier]

Wouldn't a company that's gone through bankruptcy proceedings and no longer in operation have sold its assets in order to pay its creditors? It seems dubious to me that a company would be allowed to take an IP with it into oblivion.

In a perfect world that is exactly what would happen.

[Killer Cyborg]

Again, though, Backbone Entertainment doesn't seem to be bankrupt, and they're the ones who developed the game.
I'd expect that they'd be the ones to own the rights.
If some other company owned the rights for some reason, and that company went bankrupt, I'd be curious to know what company that was.

[Qev]

Wouldn't a company that's gone through bankruptcy proceedings and no longer in operation have sold its assets in order to pay its creditors? It seems dubious to me that a company would be allowed to take an IP with it into oblivion.

In a perfect world that is exactly what would happen.

Well, what I mean is, nothing goes *poof* and vanishes. Some entity somewhere either holds the rights, or they revert back to whomever they licensed said rights from. Or, at worst, they fall into the public domain since nobody can show they hold ownership.

The idea that someone's property could fall into what's effectively an IP black hole for all eternity is... a bit unlikely.

[nilgravity]

theoretically a new LLC (or other corporate entity) could be made to reformat and develop the game. The LLC could absorb any legal consequences.