You may create Fan Content based on Epic IP as long as you comply with this Policy, and any Fan Content that violates this Policy is prohibited. Epic says it is honored by fan interest and finds fan creation cool, while noting it spends substantial time, thought, and money creating its intellectual property and needs to protect it.
Details
Who
you (fans creating Fan Content)
What it does
create Fan Content based on Epic IP
Condition
as long as you comply with this Policy
What it covers
Fan Content based on Epic IP
Supporting quotations
1.1 You may create Fan Content based on Epic IP as long as you comply with this Policy. Any Fan Content that violates this Policy is prohibited.
Everyone at Epic Games is extremely honored by the interest shown by our fans in our games and our company, and we think it’s cool that you want to create artwork, websites, and other stuff based on our intellectual property. At the same time, we spend a lot of time, thought, and money creating our intellectual property and need to protect it.
In most cases, using our games, artwork, videos, music, characters, logos, and other intellectual property (“Epic IP”) without our permission is illegal and a violation of our rights. So we created this Policy to explain what you may do regarding your Fan Content. In this Policy, “Fan Content” means: your personal, non-commercial (i) fan art (such as artwork, photographs, videos, and other materials) that is based on the Epic IP; and (ii) Epic IP-related websites and apps that are freely accessible to the public.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies only to Epic IP you access under Epic agreements (1.2).
Fan Content must be personal and non-commercial apart from the ad-monetized web-video exception (1.4).
Epic may revoke permission at any time for any reason (1.5).
Cross-references
defined by (model-proposed): Epic IP and Fan Content definitions — The Epic IP and Fan Content definitions set the object and scope of the general creation permission.
Using Epic's games, artwork, videos, music, characters, logos, and other intellectual property (Epic IP) without permission is in most cases illegal and violates Epic's rights. This Policy explains what you may do with your Fan Content, which means your personal, non-commercial (i) fan art based on Epic IP, such as artwork, photographs, videos, and other materials, and (ii) Epic IP-related websites and apps that are freely accessible to the public.
Fan Content: personal, non-commercial fan art plus freely publicly accessible Epic IP-related websites and apps
Supporting quotations
In most cases, using our games, artwork, videos, music, characters, logos, and other intellectual property (“Epic IP”) without our permission is illegal and a violation of our rights. So we created this Policy to explain what you may do regarding your Fan Content. In this Policy, “Fan Content” means: your personal, non-commercial (i) fan art (such as artwork, photographs, videos, and other materials) that is based on the Epic IP; and (ii) Epic IP-related websites and apps that are freely accessible to the public.
Cross-references
defines (model-proposed): Fan Content allowed only within this Policy — The Epic IP and Fan Content definitions set the object and scope of the general creation permission.
Policy may change; existing Fan Content must comply
Read this Policy carefully before creating any Fan Content. Epic reserves the right to change this Policy at any time by posting the revised Policy on its website, and any existing Fan Content that no longer complies because of a change must be modified to comply with the Policy.
Details
Who
Epic (may change the Policy); you (must modify non-compliant Fan Content)
What it does
change the Policy by posting the revision; modify existing Fan Content to comply
When
at any time; existing content must be brought into compliance after a change
Supporting quotations
Please read this Policy carefully before creating any Fan Content. We reserve the right to change this Policy at any time by posting the revised Policy to our website. Any existing Fan Content that no longer complies with this Policy due to a change in the Policy must be modified to be compliant with the Policy.
Qualifications & exceptions
No notice method beyond posting the revised Policy is stated.
Not stated here
Whether Epic gives any direct notice of changes beyond posting the revision.
Cross-references
qualifies (model-proposed): Fan Content allowed only within this Policy — Future Policy changes can require already-created Fan Content to be modified, qualifying the permission over time.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Restriction or exception
Only Epic IP accessed under Epic agreements is covered
This Policy applies only to Epic IP that you access under Epic's Terms of Service, end user license agreements, and/or other agreements you have with Epic. For example, if you agreed to the end user license agreement for a particular game, this Policy covers the Fan Content you create based on that game.
Details
Condition
Epic IP accessed under Epic Terms of Service, EULAs, and/or other Epic agreements
What it covers
Fan Content based on that game (example: a game whose EULA you accepted)
Supporting quotations
1.2 This Policy applies only to Epic IP that you access pursuant to Epic’s Terms of Service, end user license agreements, and/or other agreements you have with Epic. For example, if you have agreed to Epic’s end user license agreement for particular game, then this Policy covers the Fan Content you create based on that game.
Not stated here
How the Policy applies to Epic IP accessed without any Epic agreement, beyond the statement that unauthorized use is in most cases illegal.
Fan Content must suit the audience, tone, law, and decency
All Fan Content must be appropriate for the audience of the Epic IP and consistent with the spirit and tone of the Epic IP as determined by Epic. Fan Content must comply with applicable law, must not violate the rights of others, and must not be obscene, sexually explicit, defamatory, offensive, objectionable, or harmful to others.
Details
Condition
appropriate for the Epic IP audience; consistent with its spirit and tone as determined by Epic
Condition
compliant with applicable law; not violating others' rights; not obscene, sexually explicit, defamatory, offensive, objectionable, or harmful
Supporting quotations
1.3 All Fan Content must be appropriate for the audience of the Epic IP and consistent with the spirit and tone of the Epic IP (as determined by Epic). Fan Content must comply with applicable law, may not violate the rights of others, and must not be obscene, sexually explicit, defamatory, offensive, objectionable, or harmful to others.
Qualifications & exceptions
Appropriateness, spirit, and tone are determined by Epic.
Not stated here
What review or appeal, if any, applies to Epic's appropriateness determination.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
Fan Content must be non-commercial except ad-supported web videos
Fan Content must have no commercial (monetary) objective. As an exception, individual fans are permitted to monetize web videos (such as YouTube) with advertisements, so long as those videos otherwise meet the requirements of this Policy.
Details
Condition
no commercial (monetary) objective
Exception
individual fans may monetize web videos with advertisements if the videos otherwise meet this Policy
Supporting quotations
1.4 Fan Content must have no commercial (i.e., monetary) objective. As an exception to this, individual fans are permitted to monetize web videos (such as YouTube) with advertisements, so long as those videos otherwise meet the requirements of this Policy.
Qualifications & exceptions
The exception covers only web videos and only advertising monetization.
Not stated here
Whether other revenue forms (donations, sponsorships, merchandise) count as a commercial objective.
Your Fan Content may not include links to any website that promotes or exploits cheats or hacks to Epic's games or any other games.
Details
What it does
include links to websites promoting or exploiting cheats or hacks (prohibited)
What it covers
cheats or hacks to Epic's games or any other games
Supporting quotations
1.7 Your Fan Content may not include links to any website that promotes or exploits cheats or hacks to Epic’s games or any other games.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Fan Content must not pose as official Epic material
You may not create or use any Fan Content in a manner that could cause people to believe that it is an official Epic production. For example, a fan website may not be designed to look like an official Epic website, and it must be clear to visitors that the website is not an Epic website.
Details
What it does
create or use Fan Content that could be mistaken for an official Epic production (prohibited)
Condition
fan websites must not look official and must make their unofficial status clear to visitors
Supporting quotations
1.8 You may not create or use any Fan Content in a manner that could cause people to believe that it is an official Epic production. For example, a fan website may not be designed to look like an official Epic website, and it must be clear to visitors that the website is not an Epic website.
You may not use any Epic IP in any manner that is derogatory to Epic or that may damage the value, reputation, or goodwill of Epic or its products or brands, as determined by Epic.
Details
What it does
use Epic IP in a derogatory manner or one damaging Epic's value, reputation, or goodwill (prohibited)
Supporting quotations
1.9 You may not use any Epic IP in any manner that is derogatory to Epic or that may damage the value, reputation, or goodwill of Epic or its products or brands (as determined by Epic).
Qualifications & exceptions
Derogatory effect is determined by Epic.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Procedure
Display Epic's disclaimer with your Fan Content
You must display the following disclaimer on or in connection with your Fan Content, including on any web page containing your Fan Content: Portions of the materials used are trademarks and/or copyrighted works of Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved by Epic. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Epic.
Details
What it does
display the required disclaimer on or in connection with your Fan Content
What it covers
the verbatim Epic disclaimer text
Supporting quotations
1.10 You must display the following disclaimer on or in connection with your Fan Content, including on any web page containing your Fan Content:
Portions of the materials used are trademarks and/or copyrighted works of Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved by Epic. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Epic.
Marks means Epic brands, logos, game titles, character names, and other trademarks. Marks used with Fan Content must be used only in connection with discussion of the Epic products or business they represent, never to identify or promote you, your Fan Content, or any other products or business; must be used in a manner that enhances and does not damage the associated reputation and goodwill; must not appear in a website name unless the name makes clear the site is unofficial; no registering or using confusingly similar domain names; and Marks must not be altered, e.g. changing Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal 4 Engine or Unrealengine 4, or altering a logo's colors, design, or appearance into a new logo.
Details
What it covers
Marks: Epic brands, logos, game titles, character names, other trademarks
Condition
use only to discuss the represented Epic products or business; must enhance, not damage, goodwill
Condition
unofficial website names only; no confusingly similar domains; no altering Marks
Supporting quotations
1.11 If you use Epic brands, logos, game titles, character names, or other trademarks (“Marks”) in connection with your Fan Content, you must follow these rules:
Marks must be used only in connection with discussion of the Epic products or business they represent. Do not use Marks to identify or promote you, your Fan Content, or any other products or business.
Marks must be used in a manner that will enhance and not damage the reputation and goodwill associated with the Marks.
Do not use any Marks in the name of a website unless it is clear from the name that the website is not an official Epic website.
Do not register or use any domain name that is confusingly similar to our domain names.
Do not alter any Marks. Examples:
“Unreal Engine 4” should never be changed to “”Unreal 4 Engine” or “Unrealengine 4”.
The colors of a logo should not be altered, and the design and appearance of the logo should not be modified or adapted into a new logo.
Except for the limited permission described in Section 1, your use of any Epic IP is subject to Epic's Terms of Service, end user license agreements, and other agreements you may have with Epic regarding the websites, games, and other materials from which you access the Epic IP. Those agreements include important legal terms such as limitations of liability, disclaimers of warranties, and dispute resolution, so review those agreements carefully before creating any Fan Content.
Details
Condition
all Epic IP use beyond the limited Section 1 permission follows Epic ToS, EULAs, and other Epic agreements
What it covers
liability limitations, warranty disclaimers, and dispute resolution in those agreements
Supporting quotations
Except for the limited permission described in Section 1 above, your use of any Epic IP is subject to Epic’s Terms of Service, end user license agreements, and other agreements you may have with Epic regarding the websites, games, and other materials from which you access the Epic IP. Those agreements include important legal terms (such as limitations of liability, disclaimers of warranties, and dispute resolution), so please review those agreements carefully before creating any Fan Content.
Qualifications & exceptions
This Policy grants only the limited Section 1 permission; everything else follows the other agreements.
Not stated here
Which specific agreement terms apply to a given use; they depend on the agreements for the accessed materials, which are not supplied here.
Mods follow game EULAs; this Policy changes nothing
Epic allows fans to create modifications or enhancements (Mods) to some of its games under the end user license agreements for those games. This Policy does not change the game end user license agreements with respect to Mods.
Details
What it covers
Mods to some Epic games, governed by those games' EULAs
Supporting quotations
As you know, Epic allows fans to create modifications or enhancements (“Mods”) to some of our games pursuant to the end user license agreements for those games. Please note that this Policy does not change our game end user license agreements with respect to Mods.
Do not send unsolicited Fan Content or game ideas to Epic; they will be deleted without review.
Details
What it does
do not send unsolicited Fan Content or game ideas to Epic; sent material is deleted without review
Supporting quotations
Please do not send your unsolicited Fan Content or game ideas to Epic; they will be deleted without review.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Company practice
Epic may take legal action for misuse of Epic IP
Under Section 5 (Enforcement of Rights), Epic reserves the right to take legal action against you for your misuse of Epic IP, where Epic IP means Epic's games, artwork, videos, music, characters, logos, and other intellectual property.
Details
Who
Epic (reserves the right to take legal action against you)
Epic reserves the right to take legal action against you for your misuse of Epic IP.
Section 5 – Enforcement of Rights
In most cases, using our games, artwork, videos, music, characters, logos, and other intellectual property (“Epic IP”) without our permission is illegal and a violation of our rights. So we created this Policy to explain what you may do regarding your Fan Content. In this Policy, “Fan Content” means: your personal, non-commercial (i) fan art (such as artwork, photographs, videos, and other materials) that is based on the Epic IP; and (ii) Epic IP-related websites and apps that are freely accessible to the public.
Qualifications & exceptions
Section 5 heading gives this reservation its enforcement scope.
Not stated here
What form legal action takes and whether any warning or cure step precedes it.
defined by (model-proposed): Epic IP and Fan Content definitions — The Epic IP definition supplies the object of the enforcement card's misuse trigger.