Quote:

---

well the actual word stargate is in lots of sci-fi games because it is a combination of two words "star" and "gate", and do u wish to help with the project because i could use it.

---

Yes, it is...but it's also different in what it defines. For example, IIRC, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (the one with Gil Gerrard and Erin Grey; it was on TV in the 80's) had "Stargate"; it was never really explained, but basically, it was a device thing in space that had four points; these points would light up like shinning stars and open a 'gate' between them for instant travel between point A and point B.

The trick is that in your game, you are basically saying "I'm using the exact same thing that the Stargate TV/Movie/RPG franchise is using"...you're gonna get sued. Now, if you have your Stargate as something like...

"Star-Gate: This is a one-time device that allows a single person with his gear to somehow teleport from one star system to another, but only to another planet that has a certain type of radiation signature. The user inputs the signature into his Star-Gate and hits a button. In a few seconds, the user is whisked away to the planet that has that signature. The arrival location is usually a specific location that is added to the signature...like a specific apartment would be in an apartment building."

Something like that might get you off the hook; but a big round thing called a stargate that uses constellation's to 'dial into' another stargate, and wormhole then opens between the two stargates...well, I hope you have a good lawyer. It basically boils down to similarity. Make your stargate different enough so as to "not confuse an average person" into thinking yours is the same thing as one from the owners of the copyright (and/or trademark), and you're likely ok...but if a person who's seen the movie and a few shows looks at your game and thinks "Hey! Cool! I remember this movie! They finally made a game out it? Sweet!"...well, you're in big doo-doo.