The specific design of the shapes is trademarked, not copyright. Drawing circles and squares is fine. Using those specific shapes in a game meant for use with a Playstation controller falls under fair use. Otherwise using them in any way that it would seem like Sony would be involved, not so much.
Branding is product specific. I wouldn’t be surprised if nobody can put a pink square and red circle on their controller due to trademark, but that doesn’t mean Sony owns red circles and pink squares. It means they have reserved the right to exclusively have those buttons on their controllers as it’s part of their branding. If other people put those buttons on their controllers it could be mistaken for a Sony controller. If you want to put a pink square and red circle on another product Sony doesn’t sell then you’re probably fine.
Aren’t the PS symbols copyrighted/branded? I read somewhere that there’s some IP involved, so you can’t use the standard symbols.
What I can’t draw squares and circles anymore?
The specific design of the shapes is trademarked, not copyright. Drawing circles and squares is fine. Using those specific shapes in a game meant for use with a Playstation controller falls under fair use. Otherwise using them in any way that it would seem like Sony would be involved, not so much.
IANAL, but this describes it well enough.
Branding is product specific. I wouldn’t be surprised if nobody can put a pink square and red circle on their controller due to trademark, but that doesn’t mean Sony owns red circles and pink squares. It means they have reserved the right to exclusively have those buttons on their controllers as it’s part of their branding. If other people put those buttons on their controllers it could be mistaken for a Sony controller. If you want to put a pink square and red circle on another product Sony doesn’t sell then you’re probably fine.
You’re right. Sony sued (or sent a C&D letter, don’t remember exactly) dbrand when they made PS5 housing plates with the triangle, square… Etc.
Pretty sure they are. Dbrand got sued by Sony for the first version of their darkplates because of the symbols on the inside. https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/16/22728936/dbrand-pulls-ps5-darkplates-from-sale-sony-threatens-legal-action
Can you copyright basic geometric shapes? These buttons are usually circle, triangle, X, and square. Or A, B, X, Y.
Curse Microsoft for having popular controllers with wrong button labels! This is the only correct layout!
Fuck that, XYAB for life
I think the point is they copyrighted these symbols as part of their branding, just like their logo, so in the context of games and game controllers
They all have their symbols copyrighted or trademarked I think, so they can’t just use standard button orientations. The punks.