content-policy

name	content-policy
description	FARSPACE original IP policy for content creation — what is allowed, what is forbidden, and how to invent original names and flavour text

Content & IP Policy

FARSPACE uses entirely original content. The policy exists to avoid copyright and trademark issues with published 4X titles.

What is forbidden

Never copy or closely paraphrase from:

• Master of Orion (any edition) — faction names, ship classes, tech names, planet names, star names, stat values
• Stellaris, GalCiv, Endless Space, Space Empires — same prohibition
• Any other published 4X or space strategy title

"Closely paraphrase" means: changing one word, translating to a synonym, or using the same flavour concept with a different skin.

What is required

All of the following must be invented:

• Faction / empire names
• Ship class names and ship names
• Technology names and descriptions
• Star and planet names in default content
• Planet trait names and flavour text
• Any dialogue, lore, or UI copy

How to invent good names

Factions: Greek/Latin roots, invented prefixes, evocative concepts (e.g. "Valdhari Collective", "Serentine Accord"). Avoid real-world nation names.

Ships: Material + role pattern (e.g. "Obsidian-class Frigate"), abstract concepts, or invented words. Avoid "Destroyer", "Cruiser" preceded by proper names from known titles.

Technologies: Process or concept names (e.g. "Void Lattice Drive", "Fractal Synthesis"). Avoid copying the tech-tree structure directly from any title.

Planet traits: Descriptive geology/ecology (e.g. "Crystalline Mantle", "Sulphur Bloom"). Avoid direct copies of Stellaris or MoO trait names.

Flavour text standard

• One to three sentences, evocative, in-universe
• No real-world cultural references
• No copyrighted proper nouns
• Tone: scientific speculation or in-universe historical record

When in doubt

Invent something new rather than risk a near-copy. Originality is preferable to accuracy relative to any existing title.