Maps are copyrightable: cartographers' works were some of the first to receive copyright protection. Makes sense: making a map takes time, effort, and specialized training, after all.

This case has the added wrinkle that the map used by Naughty Dog was not, in fact, the official map of the Boston metro system, but rather the individual's own "cleaned up" version of same. The changes seem to be mostly, if not exclusively, on how the Green Line is depicted.

But yes, he is a bit whiny in his post.

I'd imagine that it would have been worse if they used the official one, no?

I can't believe a big company like ND would make these simple legal issues.

The guy had a screenshot of the game on his site. :p

Besides it's a map that he slightly adjusted. I would have understood his feelings if this was a painting instead. Anyway I'm saying that he's a cry baby because he's overreacting in his message. He could have demanded things calmly and professionally.

NoName, you're really blowing this out of proportion! The Boston Transit Map is so generic and similar to 90% of other transit maps out there... really has that "every-map" look. Probably just another coincidence.

Dangit, Smeags stole my likeness sarcasm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFjI5ny7Who

This is how this thread should have went lol.

Anyone here ever heard of this game called NCAA Football? EA doesn't have any rights to use the players "likeness" but they do. They don't use their names, but they have everyones number and position they play on the field correct. That is deliberately using someones "likeness" but nothing ever comes from it.

Anyways I think Naughty Dog is going to hell for this.

They look exactly the same. Look blue eyes, red hair, freckles, and scar on eyebrow.

Edit: They also have the exact same skin tone. This is over for ND.

http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-has-no-1st-amendment-right-to-college-players-509395948

*walks away whistling*

The original version of Ellie looked a lot like Ellen Page. I know several people thought the same, myself included well before this story broke. The final version doesn't. It looks like they changed her features after they saw Beyond: Two Souls.

@noname2200

This has been going on for years. The NCAA also sells jerseys with the number and name of players on the back and the players get no money from the profits made off of those jerseys. Nothing has been done. I've been hearing about the court cases for years but nothing yet. Also note that with these games there is NO DOUBT that they used the players likeness. Every single player in the game can be linked to their real life player. They have their number, position, and their skills set to how they perform in real life. Ellie in The Last of Us is no where near as close as that. Different hair color, eye color, skin color, freckles, scar... Face strucure is similar but that is all.

Nothing is going to come from this.