How far can you go with references?

[DoctorObviously]

I was wondering how Magicka can escape it's development unsued about a billion times. I mean, it pretty much references lots of big movies and stories out there. Why is it that people don't go apeshit and shout that the developers "stole" other people's ideas. I mean, if I made a movie or a game, how far COULD I go with references?

 

[Vausch]

It's probably going under parody clauses. I'm don't know what Magicka is though so I'm probably not a good judge XD But often times if someone points to themselves and goes "hey look what I'm referencing isn't that clever?" it goes under parody and isn't really up for lawsuit.

 

[AmrasCalmacil]

Look at all the stuff WoW gets away with.
WoW goes too far, it becomes a guessing game in which Rolf Harris pops up every five minutes to ask you 'Can you tell whorrit is yet?!'

But if there's some sort of copyright involved in making little jabs at something then it probably does go under parody. Which Magicka definitely is.

Just wait for all the Vietnam War references that will be in the expansion.