Including a trademarked term right in the title is the thing that gets most fan projects. It's a multiplier for takedowns, it can't get any easier for companies than running a simple script that just searches Itch/Gamejolt/Github for terms and then doing a mass takedown of the results. And that will even catch things with 3 downloads.

Sure user-added* or redone assets could help, but just distancing the name would help a lot more. Having 100% new assets won't stop a takedown if you use trademarked terms (see DMCA's Sky), and the DMCA system doesn't really discourage overstepping unless somebody has the willingness/money/time to take it to court.

*=image detection could be a thing as well though, so be careful with screenshots especially with a logo

[–] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Of course, I hope my comment didn't imply otherwise. Unfortunately even a different title and completely original assets (AM2R?) won't help much with some companies.

Good enough project will catch their eye sooner or later anyway.