Hello Games’ ambitious space exploration game No Man’s Sky should be out this week, but it was delayed at the 11th hour, and will now be coming along in August. At the time, Hello’s Sean Murray said the game needed a little more polish, but it seems there’s been another reason the game’s not yet out.
They’ve not been able to legally use the word “Sky.” It seems ridiculous, but it’s another case of the arcane art of copyright law in play. The word sky, when used for electronic media, is copyrighted by the Sky UK Limited Telecom group; the same people who bring you Sky News et al, and the same people who made Microsoft change their cloud-storage service SkyDrive to Onedrive as it infringed on their trademark.
Thankfully for Hello Games, they’re now able to use the name.
“Yay! We finally settled with Sky (they own the word “Sky”). We can call our game No Man’s Sky. 3 years of secret stupid legal nonsense over,” creator Sean Murray tweeted.
The dispute is very possible why you’ve seen very little of the game in media at the moment, and is just another example of trademark law being silly, when people are given the legal rights over a word that’s in the common lexicon. It’s the stuff we see when we look up, for god’s sake.
But, with that out of the way, it means there are no more hurdles left, and we can finally see what all the fuss is about and if it lives up to the aura of hype that surrounds it.
No Man’s Sky is out on PC and PlayStation 4 on August 9, 2016.
Last Updated: June 20, 2016
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 09:33
Copyright law can GITFS. Seriously. Well, not entirely, but companies who enforce it like this should GITFS.
Glad it’s over and I’m excited to see more of this now 😀
Anon A Mouse
June 20, 2016 at 09:41
If you have a copyright and then don’t defend said copyright you loose said right. But three years is a bit long in this case me thinks.
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 09:59
No Man’s Sky – a space exploration game – clearly does not infringe on Sky News. Anyone with half a brain would be able to tell that. Copyright exists to protect your properties, but when it’s used like this, not to protect your property but to be full of shit? It’s a problem. Protecting your shit isn’t a problem, ever though. That’s why I changed to say it’s more the company than copyright law.
Original Heretic
June 20, 2016 at 09:34
Is it too late for me to copyright the term “Level up”?
Step 1: Go back in time
Step 2: Copyright “Level up” but it do it all secretly so that everyone still uses it for every single bloody game.
Step 3: Return to the present and start filing lawsuits.
Step 3: Profit. So, so much profit!
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 20, 2016 at 09:37
I backed a KS for a game called Dieselstormers. They ended up changing the name to Rogue Stormers after being threatened by Diesel – the clothing line.
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 09:38
Rockstar will be coming after you for your name soon. There’s only 1 Trevor allowed in gaming.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 09:44
Your name however might be too close to someone who rains justice from above
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 10:00
My name is not the same, firstly, secondly I had this name before Overwatch was a thing, and lastly, it’s a common English Term that isn’t Egyptian. So Justice can GITS.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:10
Happy monday to you too
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 10:11
PHARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:02
Storm in a tea cup if you ask me 0_O
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 20, 2016 at 10:03
I hope you feel bad. Because you should. That was really bad.
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:04
I don’t. I left my feelings at the Nairobi airport.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:10
you had feelings?
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 20, 2016 at 10:10
Kenya dit glo!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:11
XD
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:12
You say I should feel bad?!
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 20, 2016 at 09:37
#StayStrong#7
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:18
*cries*
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 09:47
So is this the reason why I have to ponder for hours on end about the extra Y?
http://media.camparigroup.com/skyycom/wp-content/plugins/skyy/images/misc/share.png?0ddec6
Original Heretic
June 20, 2016 at 10:01
And while you ponder, the bottle seems to get emptier, but you also cannot understand why.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:11
Blergh, my liver demands finer things.
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 09:59
Copyright law should not allow you to copyright common words. Like scrolls. Or Sky.
I’m just going to go ahead and copyright the word Nut. I’ll be rich.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:09
Or React, thanks for the lolz Fine Bros.
BakedBagel
June 20, 2016 at 10:14
Im really sorry
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:22
You have GOT to be kidding me!?
BakedBagel
June 20, 2016 at 10:24
1996 tho, if you want it. TAKE IT
The Order of the Banana
June 20, 2016 at 12:24
By my left NUT!!!!!
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 13:13
lol
iusedtobe(a)regular
June 20, 2016 at 09:59
Sky! *runs*
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:00
Did you see the clouds in the sk…. urrr.. that big blue thing up above my head, today?
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:00
What nonsense.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 20, 2016 at 10:02
Says the pot.
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:03
Shut it kettledrum boy!
The Order of the Banana
June 20, 2016 at 12:24
Are you back from Kenya yet?
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:01
oh look at those birds flying up there in the sk…. 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.03% carbon dioxide atmosphere
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:01
Ha, with figures like that you must be a climate change denialist!
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:02
*natural CO2 not man influenced
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:03
betta!
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:01
The sk…… atmosphere of our planet that turns blue when the sun’s rays hit, is the limit!
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:03
Look up in the sk….. air, it’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!
RinceThis
June 20, 2016 at 10:03
Ohhhhh, DC!?
Pariah
June 20, 2016 at 10:04
Yeah, internet in this country sucks.
Ottokie
June 20, 2016 at 10:04
I still find it massively stupid to be able to copywrite a common word like sky.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 20, 2016 at 10:12
With enough money anything is possible, even the presidency of one of the most powerful countries in the world
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:09
I’m going to create a game called Sky Scrolls
Ottokie
June 20, 2016 at 10:12
How about “Sky Scrolls Saga”
Raptor Rants
June 20, 2016 at 10:12
Perfect
BakedBagel
June 20, 2016 at 10:26
SkyTV: ILL SEE YOU IN COURT
Ghost In The Rift
June 20, 2016 at 10:30
SO wish i could copyright “You’re Mamma” sigh
The Order of the Banana
June 20, 2016 at 12:01
lol, Sky owns the word “Sky”? Hahaha Fuck off Sky! SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY! Seriously, Copyright Law is retarded with a capital letter R. It’s even more retarded then the Alt-Right and their ideological mirror image, the Regressive Left.
Dane
June 20, 2016 at 12:35
SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY SKY I DO WHAT I WANT
Aries
June 20, 2016 at 13:19
Really?
Darren Peach
June 20, 2016 at 14:16
Couldn’t agree more.