This is topic Contacting Amtrak in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.


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Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
 
After the cancelation of Train Sim 2, and Train Sim 1 geting old, I decided to make my own RR game with Amtrak Trains, and before you think I'm getting off topic, the point of this post is to ask if any one here could tell me how to go about contacting Amtrak about useing there Logo and there Trains, ya'know, like asking how to legaly use there copy-righted material, name and Logo, for instance, who is it that I should contact? and how?

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JONATHON D. ORTIZ
EMD455@Blue-Rail.com
 

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
First let’s address the spelling (courtesy of SpellChek @ Microsoft Word):

Now to translate into more coherent English:

To respond to Mr. Ortiz's inquiry, I would suggest starting with the 'contact us' tab at the Amtrak website. They could well forward such to the appropriate Department, which ny best guess would be the Legal Department @ 60 Mass.

But I sincerely respect, Jonathon, that you want to commence this project "on the legit" rather than the all too often prevalent "hey this is the internet and anything goes".

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-11-2005).]
 

Posted by jp1822 (Member # 2596) on :
 
Just to warn you, and coming from a published author, this is going to probably be a harder task than meets the eye, as copyrighted information and names (including Amtrak logos and names that is copyrtighted) is hard to get rights to - other than the one who holds the copyright. For example, Warner Brothers copyrighted the name "Polar Express" - for the Polar Express movie. As a result, the Steamtown National Historic Site (in Scranton, PA) can no longer use the name "Polar Express" for its Christmas train runs. Wouldn't be surprised if Amtrak wants a fee for copyrighted names they have that you want to use. Copyrigt has gotten to be a hot topic lately, so definitely use Mr. Norman's advice and discuss with Amtrak.
 
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
 
Designing a game is no simple task, it is going to be very dificult to create a brand new video game and release it to the public. Facing Point Media (www.facingpoint.com) has promised a Pacific Surflienr route and it has taken them 3 years and it is still not out. The cars are fairly easy for them to design, but scenary etc. on a route takes countless hours.

For you to create a game though, all I can say is good luck...I would go for creating indivisual cars and creating a webstie where people can download them for free, but you could also have a "Donation" page, but the cars would be free. If you try to sell somethingat wal-mart with "amtrak" on it, the NRPC will not be thrilled.

I see alot of people on Train-Sim.com create Amtrak cars, but its hard to create a route.

If you want to contact Amtrak about this, although I dont think its nessecary unless you have a team of designers ready to start a new Train Simulation game...I would not call 1800-usa-rail, because thats for reservations, as jp1822 said, try contacting them on Amtrak.com.


 

Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
 
Actualy I was shooting for a 2D game as more of a simple RR Game, only then later thinking about something in the 3D World of Game design, something simple, yet fun to play

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JONATHON D. ORTIZ
EMD455@Blue-Rail.com
 

Posted by icgichi (Member # 3599) on :
 
the forum was just getting back to good discussion
any chance you can back to where you came from Jonathon and not post here??
 
Posted by Kairho (Member # 1567) on :
 
Actually, this IS a pretty good discussion. I'm interest that Jonathan is designing a game and, being an RR one with Amtrak "characters," is right on target.

I'm also interested that Steamtown NHS cannot use a a name that would certainly be grandfathered in because of provable prior use, but that's a different discussion topic.

Jonathan, Mr. Norman's advice is right on point. I would only add not to worry too soon about it ... get the game done first and then be concerned about copyright. If you end up with a distributor, they may worry themselves about it or you can always change to another name. IOW, enjoy the developing and leave the legal to later.
 

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
While I do not represent to hold any "expert" credentials in this area, I'm rather certain the no holder of trademarks would permit anyone to use such in a matter reflecting unfavorable upon such holder.

For example, in that computer game, Grand Theft Auto, that I understand to depict numerous illegal activities all conducted in a violent environment, no automaker would be about to have their logos and designs used in such a production.

I can, however, claim somewhat more familiarity to the various "National Lampoon" movies (I actually watched one of them in entirety) in which, while quite G-Rated, depict misadventures in an automobile. The auto used (appears to be a Ford product) is carefully masked of any identity.

Airline disaster flicks? Always a fictional carrier. In fact the actual aircraft model is often disguised.

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-10-2005).]
 

Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
Airline disaster flicks? Always a fictional carrier. In fact the actual aircraft model is often disguised.

Yes, by showing an A320 taking off, the interior of a B747, and the landing of a Tristar!

Personally, yes I'd go for developing the thing first, and then applying any company logos once the product is advaned in its implementation, and then when permission has been gained. I doubt Amtrak would allow their corporate logos to be used on something that some college (?) kid is keen to try and is unlikely to succeed in doing. That's not a slur, that's reality. Quality software takes a long time to produce and many people fall by the wayside.

Geoff M.
 

Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
 
Thanks Gilbert B Norman( I was always wondering why GTA 3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas never used real Cars), jp1822, Kairho, and geoffm, Thanks for the advice, as for Amtraks involvment, would I have to give credits towards Amtrak, for instance, put an ad with there slogan:"Catch The Next Wave In Train Travel"?

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JONATHON D. ORTIZ
EMD455@Blue-Rail.com
 

Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
 
Are you trying to sell this, or just put it in a site like Train-sim.com? If you want to sell it then they are not going to be able to use it without paying the NRPC. I would try contacting Facing Point Media, they would know how to do this since they just created an amtrak route.

Good luck.
 

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
 
I'm thinking that Amtrak might let you use it at no charge, as it offers free advertising for them, provided Amtrak is presented in a favorable manner. Of course, a written agreement is essential for any commercial use.

Going OT for a moment: I, too, am puzzled about the Polar Express name, especially given that Steamtown was using it first. I really don't think you can copyright (or perhaps trademark) a phrase that has had prior use. I'm not even sure you can copyright a title at all. Several movies have been made with identical titles, but completely different stories. I suspect some hotshot studio lawyer sent an intimidating letter without really having any legal basis for doing so, and Steamtown caved.

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"Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience." -- Hyman Rickover
The Del Monte Club Car
 

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
If a phrase becomes associated with a commercial product, then it becomes a service mark and is protected from unauthorized use under applicable Law.

Somewhere, someone must have uttered the phrase "breakfast of champions" before the father of a "North Shore' (that's as in San Mateo County or 19 Mile Drive for you, Mr. Toy) girl I once casually socialized with @ Univ of Illinois officially dreamed up 'The Breakfast of Champions" for General Mills.

I doubt if today anyone else dareth use that phrase in any commercial manner.

Continuing way off topic, there was actually a "disaster averted" TV movie, the name of which I cannot recall, in which a real-life airline permitted its aircraft and trademarks to be used.

This movie, starring actor Robert Loggia (most recent: a supporting role in this past season's "Sopranos') and based upon a true story, featured an airline Captain finding and escorting a light aircraft flying overwater to safety. The light aircraft had lost all NAVAIDS save a radio, and this B-767 (a "known position" with GPS and whatever else) found him simply by use of celestial navigation (relative bearings against a setting sun).

I realize navigation is a "lost art" amongst seafarers and airmen today (I presume knowledge of such is still required to hold a Mariner's or Pilot's license), but as a one time practioner of such, I found the story quite "gripping'.

Only wish I could remember the flick's name.

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-11-2005).]
 

Posted by Kairho (Member # 1567) on :
 
That TV movie would be the 1993 "Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771" in which Loggia played the pilot of the Air New Zealand plane. As the airliner was not in trouble, and actually was the hero, I am not surprised that a real airline company was happy to be associated with it.

Basic navigation, is not yet a lost art and is taught to both pilots and seamen. It is called pilotage and is basically navigation by reference to visual objects along with paper, a pencil, and basic arithmetic.

It is probably not taught to locomotive engineers. Yet, on second thought, the arithmetic aspects are critical to dispatchers (thus piloting our way back to the topic at hand).
 

Posted by CHATTER (Member # 1185) on :
 
In any event, the spelling issue would need to be addressed when making such contact. One may as well start now.
 
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
 
ROFL @ Chatter! If only there was a "respected users list".

Geoff M.
 

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Thanks very much, Mr. Kairho

Of interest from an "airfan' site: http://www.airodyssey.net/articles/movie-flt771.html
 

Posted by TheBriz09 (Member # 3166) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
Continuing way off topic, there was actually a "disaster averted" TV movie, the name of which I cannot recall, in which a real-life airline permitted its aircraft and trademarks to be used.


It's still off topic, I apologize, but it reminded me about the movie Cast Away. It was interesting how FedEx allowed the producers to use the FedEx people and planes in the movie. Apparently FedEx has never lost a plane in flight, but the execs decided that having the publicity for the company outweighed the cons of seeing a FedEx plane go down. Quite the interesting story, it was.

 

Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
 
Say, when it does come out, would it be off-topic to let ya'll know?

------------------
JONATHON D. ORTIZ
EMD455@Blue-Rail.com
 

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Certainly not, Jonathon; considering the lattitude the Moderator(???) here has allowed wth this thread (FWIW, had this discussion started at my Amtrak Forum elsewhere, it would have by now found its way over to a Forum at that site entitled "Railroads in Media').

Regarding that excellent movie Cast Away (Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, music: Alan Silvestri - same composer for HBO's 'Band of Brothers') and Mr. Briz's comment that FedEx permitted use of their Aircraft and facilities for a disaster, I must wonder if they are attempting to convey the idea that "our worldwide family pulls together for one of our own", and IF at such time FedEx is to have a catastrophic event, such as an aircraft loss or a terrorist incident at a terminal, this is how we will pull together.

In very pragmatic terms: "aren't we such a great outfit either to ship with or work for?".

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-12-2005).]
 



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