   "Cloning" a game
  When I got started with game development, I coded up little clones of games . I now have a clone of pacman, in which I use sprites taken from a free sprites site (although they look quiet similar to the original pacman). I'm not using any of the original pacman code, i've coded up the game from scratch, however, the gameplay is quiet similar. Can I host this game on my site, by giving it a different name? If yes, am I allowed to tell people that this is a clone of pacman?   
  I am pretty certain you could have searched these forums for the term "clone" and found numerous threads that would have answered your question.  Anyway here's a shortened answer to your question:  No.  Pacman's characters are protected by both copyright and trademark.  Even if your code and characters are original (not mechanical copies of original) it is infringing because your game will be considered "substantially similar" to the original game.  Namco also owns trademark rights to the deisgn of Pacman, so putting it on your website may lead visitor to be confused as to the actual source of the game or that Namco somehow endorsed your version of the game.  Telling people you cloned Pac Man makes it a knowing infringement and subjects you to higher fines.  Do yourself a favor and come up with your own original characters and level layouts.  You can still have similar gameplay, but just copying a well known game doesn't really demonstrate your skills or creativity as a developer.Good luck!   