My graphics department asked me to look over your terms to see if they could use your software. I do not have a lot of experience with software EULAs, so I wanted to know if we can use your software in a show and if there are any restrictions. I wondered if we would need a custom license or not. I assume that once we download Unreal that we can use it for any show, any network. The rights we are always asked to get are world-wide rights, in all media, in perpetuity and in-context promo, Thank you for your help.
The rights for using UE4 are detailed in the UE4 EULA. It’s not clear what you mean by “show” but it seems like some kind of TV broadcast. The EULA permits that, and doesn’t require a custom license. If the use is purely linear, non-interactive (like a normal TV show), there is no royalty. Epic does get promotional rights to the material (i.e., in promotion of our engine business), and you have an obligation to notify Epic of the release.
You mention “in perpetuity” - the engine license is terminable if you breach.
Hi again,
There are two things that I’d like to clarify.
- The program we are producing is for CuriosityStream, which is a streaming documentary platform.
- The credit that I saw in the EULA is very long. Is there anyway to reduce it? And we would be giving the credit at the end of the program. I hope that is alright.
Thank you.
Yes, Section 12. Normally we would give a credit like this:
Unreal® Engine, Copyright 1998 – 2016, Epic Games, Inc.
Or we could give two different credits:
- Unreal® Engine and 2) Epic Games, Inc.
Is there no way we can come to a compromise?
When you say credit, I assume you mean Section 12. It is what is it, but it doesn’t seem especially long to me. At the end of the program would be our expectation.
The EULA is non-negotiable (but does offer royalty-free usage in your case, again assuming your use is linear/non-interactive). If you want a custom license, you can approach that here.