(1) for any gambling-related activities or Products; (2) for operation of nuclear facilities, aircraft navigation, aircraft communication systems or air traffic control machines, or for military use; (3) in violation of any applicable law or regulation; (4) in which the Licensed Technology is rented or leased; (5) that misappropriates any of Epic’s other products or services; (6) in support of a claim by you or any third party that the Licensed Technology infringes a patent. You also may not sell or grant a security interest in any Licensed Technology.
This seems to imply that an adults-only (pornographic) game can be made and sold with UE4.
If I were to just go by the EULA, things would appear A-OK since porn isn’t illegal, gambling, or a nuclear facility, but I was hoping for more clarification.
Perhaps I should contact the licensing team about this, but I figured I’d try posting here first since it may be a question that others have as well.
Hopefully my answer will turn your taco frown into a smile.
Unlike the UDK license (which prohibits objectionable and offensive content), the UE4 EULA is more permissive. You’ve identified the right part of the EULA - the relevant question is whether the use is lawful. As for which laws apply, it’s the laws of the country or jurisdiction of use (that includes development and distribution).
So, the EULA does not prohibit pornographic content per se, so long as it is lawful. I can’t give you legal advice on that end, but I think it’s too strong of a statement to say that porn isn’t illegal anywhere in the world, and even in the US there are some restrictions.
Yeah, the EULA appeared a lot smaller and less restrictive than UDKs. But I worried that it just wasn’t complete, and Epic I believe have the right to simply change their EULA if they deem necessary, which could put someone in a tough spot if they’ve spent a lot of time and money on a game.
The EULA is similar to Unity’s, which doesn’t say they explicitly allow that stuff, but they’ve also never shut down anyone that is.
But who knows what would happen if news was made of such a game, like how it often is for “violent video games”? That’s my worry. I did figure a safe bet is to at least not sell it in countries where there are actually law against it. But even though it’s legal in the USA, media can make a fuss of things and pressure people.
Just on the EULA amendment front, you must accept a EULA amendment to remain a subscriber, but you are also free to cancel your subscription and continue using the engine under the license you accepted. In other words, Epic does not have the unilateral right to amend the EULA.
In Japan for example, genitals have to be censored out - at least to the degree that no detail can be seen… Although breasts are fine… but just to reiterate Canon’s point, different countries have different legal requirements.
Soooo… if you did go… like… really really hardcore, you’d have to research the laws of each country you intend to sell to and adapt the content accordingly. Similar to how Bethesda had to remove all Nazi symbolism to get Wolfenstein The New Order released in Germany.
This is especially difficult if you just want to sell your game from your web site since you’d have to make sure people from Japan (going back to the previous example) couldn’t buy it.
