Something I've been wondering about for a bitIs Missing.no copyrighted? Or, at least, would TPC or Nintendo be able to sue you for using that kind of unintended entity in your own game?I mean, it's not like it's an official Pokemon character, but it's directly attached to the series
>>738423215No, they can't do shit, you can't copyright a glitch + it already happenedThere you are, end of the thread
>>738423215The legal status of MissingNo. is a fascinating "grey area" in copyright law. Unlike Pikachu or Charizard, which were intentionally designed and registered, MissingNo. is a product of game code behaving in unintended ways.Here is the breakdown of where it stands:1. The Sprite (The Visuals)The "L-Block" Sprite: Most legal experts and copyright repositories (like Wikimedia Commons) consider the classic backward "L" shaped block of scrambled pixels to be in the Public Domain. This is because it was generated by a computer algorithm rather than a human artist. In many jurisdictions, works created without human authorship cannot be copyrighted.The Skeleton/Ghost Sprites: When MissingNo. takes the form of the Fossil Aerodactyl, Fossil Kabutops, or the Pokémon Tower Ghost, those are copyrighted because they were hand-drawn by Game Freak artists for the game.2. The Name "MissingNo."Official Recognition: Interestingly, "MissingNo." isn't just a fan nickname; it’s the name the game displays because the developers included the text string "Missing Number" (abbreviated) as a placeholder for empty data slots. Trademark vs. Copyright: While the concept of a glitch might not be copyrightable, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company hold massive trademarks over anything related to the Pokémon brand. Using the name "MissingNo." in a commercial product could still get you in trouble for "trademark infringement" or "unfair competition" because it relies on the reputation of the Pokémon franchise.3. The "Nintendo Factor"Official Stance: Nintendo of America once officially described MissingNo. as a "programming quirk" and "not a real part of the game." The Loophole: If you were to create a "glitch monster" that looked like a scrambled block of pixels but didn't call it a Pokémon or use Pokémon sounds/mechanics, you would likely be legally safe.
