TPIR Big Doors in video game

[dagdoggnh]

I have recently seen the trailer and some livestreams of a new video game for PC(available for free on www.steampowered.com) called "Radical Heights".  At times in the game players come across what looks like the Big Doors.  Do the TPIR producers know about it?

[SteveGavazzi]

Could you possibly provide a screenshot or a link to a video so we can see what you're talking about?

[dagdoggnh]

The trailer is at http://store.steampowered.com/app/809960/Radical_Heights/

[dagdoggnh]

And a screenshot of the Big Door(not taken by me): https://goo.gl/images/x56jc6

[SteveGavazzi]

Wow...I don't know if their likeness is protected by a copyright or anything like that, but that is definitely the Big Doors.

[JayC]

The image here- http://it.videogamer.com/2018/04/11/radical-heights-battle-royale/#postgallery-1 also shows the character on the left wearing what definitely looks like the contestant name tag.

[MSTieScott]

I'm not a lawyer, but while those doors are clearly a reference to TPIR, the design is different enough that it easily falls into the realm of parody/allusion. For that reason, I doubt that TPIR or Fremantle would have been made aware of this while it was in development.

[Teddy]

TPIR is not the only gameshow referenced here, as it also has something resembling the Bonus Wheel on Wheel of Fortune.

[whowouldeverhurtawhammy]

An intriguing imitation.
Though, it may have been only a coincidence that they resemble TPIR's old doors.

[Thatgameshowguy]

Though, it may have been only a coincidence that they resemble TPIR's old doors.

There is no possible way that is a coincidence, as another photo has a character wearing a name tag that looks a lot like the tags seen on TPiR

[Mr. Weatherman]

Wow...I don't know if their likeness is protected by a copyright or anything like that, but that is definitely the Big Doors.

The idea of using a door to present prizes, etc. is, in and of itself, not protected by copyright, but the originality of Price’s Big Doors probably is, I would imagine.

That being said...

I'm not a lawyer, but while those doors are clearly a reference to TPIR, the design is different enough that it easily falls into the realm of parody/allusion. For that reason, I doubt that TPIR or Fremantle would have been made aware of this while it was in development.

Agreed. And nothing about the work in question takes away from the value of the original.

Based on the little knowledge I have of copyright law — one of the few things I remember from the Mass Media Law class I took a year ago — I have a tough time seeing any clear signs of infringement here.  Make no mistake, the developers of this game were well aware of the design they were copying, but its implementation is totally different than the original and such that I don’t believe Fremantle would be successful in pursuing a lawsuit against its use.