dabo wrote:That's not this game, I started working on this game this year.
If there are any potential legal problems with real names even though I make no money I will use fake names. I will write code to generate players, teams and leagues anyway.
That's fair enough. Also, remember that it's not just players' names but it's also the names of teams, leagues and arenas. It's also even the abbreviations of teams and leagues - so you cannot use "NHL" in your game as that is a trademark. It also includes using logos or any photos/pictures (unless the person taking the photos has given you permission to use their photos). However, only the actual NHL, teams, etc can give permission to use logos.
Using a secret code, etc to unlock the names, etc is also infringement of copyright because you would have the real names stored in your database.
So if you don't want to infringe copyrights, absolutely everything has to be fake.
It would be sufficient to use players' real surnames but use fake first names. You could still use real dates of birth, etc too.
If you're going to fake everything then please please make it easy for us to "unfake". There are plenty of us here willing to take the chance and release addons using real data!
To be honest, the NHL would likely never sue you. They would more likely send you an email asking you to remove the offending data/logos/etc from your game. I remember a site which was offering free illegal streams of live NHL games - the NHL wrote them a very polite letter saying they appreciated their enthusiasm for the sport but that as it's illegal asked that they remove the streams - very reasonable.