Copyrighting Games/Characters/Etc

[OrionPax09]

Okay. After writing the scripts for a couple of visual novels, I've decided to take the plunge and start making entire VNs and other games. Not just working for someone else, but making my own creative visions happen.

That being said, I am the paranoid sort, and so I'd like to ask if anybody knows about legal protections such as copyrights. For example, say I launch a game on Steam. Does that game mean that the title, characters, and so on that I create are now copyrighted? Because I do not relish the thought of shedding the blood, sweat, and tears to create something, only to have some jerk swoop in and steal everything I made by just copyrighting it under their own name.

So does anybody know what legal protections I have? What options and so on I have to protect my works before I make a critical mistake?

[Wolf Knight]

you should try talking to a lawyer that understands or works with copyright laws instead of random internet people.

copyright laws can vary between regions

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

^ should speak with actual legal counsel rather than rely on the generally wrong "expertise" of fellow users.

[Gus the Crocodile]

Copyright is automatic: the moment you put an original work down on paper, save it to your hard drive etc, you own the copyright to that work, which others may not infringe upon by, for example, distributing it without your permission.

But there may be additional benefits that require active registration where you live, so yes, best check your local authority.

[Start_Running]

İlk olarak OrionPax09 tarafından gönderildi:

Okay. After writing the scripts for a couple of visual novels, I've decided to take the plunge and start making entire VNs and other games. Not just working for someone else, but making my own creative visions happen.p

COngratz.

That being said, I am the paranoid sort, and so I'd like to ask if anybody knows about legal protections such as copyrights.

And the best idea I could give you there is to check with your country's Intellectual Property Agency. Many countries have such agencies that provide advice, and the paperwork required to register copyright, free of cost is most cases.

For example, say I launch a game on Steam. Does that game mean that the title, characters, and so on that I create are now copyrighted?

Within a very specific context, yes.

Because I do not relish the thought of shedding the blood, sweat, and tears to create something, only to have some jerk swoop in and steal everything I made by just copyrighting it under their own name.

That woudl be exceptionally lazy. The common tactic is to basically just change the material ever so slightl (20-25%). With visual representations its tied to that specific representation (that's sorta why most characters retain a rather consistent appearance, outfit, etc).

Here's the thing. DOn't fret about it. Ideas are only the first part. The nexrt part is execution. If someone can imitate both, they will be obvious. Generally though, thieves can only imitate one or the other in which case what they steal will always fall short of the original. It;'ll be like New Coke vs COke CLassic.

So does anybody know what legal protections I have? What options and so on I have to protect my works before I make a critical mistake?

Take the script for the game. Place it in a sealed enveloppe.
Take all the in game artt work, and character designs. Place those ina sealed envelope.

Take those envelopes to the post of is and Mail them to your self Registered Mail. Save the receipt you get from the post office.

When you get them. DO NOT OPEN THEM. Merely place both sealed enevelopes in a plastic document bag, along with the receipt you got from the post office and keep it tucked away safely.. YOu can do this in addition to whatever you local IP agency or copyright lawyer advises.

It's basically called poor-man's copyright. It's not airtight by any stretch of the imagination, but it is still plenty strong, and certainly better than nothing. It will if nothing else establish a certifiable date for the existence of the script and concept art. . Basically since registered mail requires well, a paper trail through the post office which is government affiliated you can prove via the stamps on the envelopes and the receipt that your creation existed at a given date.

This I must stress should be don in addition to the other more formal advisories since those are a good deal more robust.

[crunchyfrog]

As a former legal advisor, the advice offered here thus far is sound.

DO NOT take anything more than the general things that have been said already, namely - get PROFESSIONAL copyright lawyer advice in your region. Yes, it's going to be an outlay but it will save you money in the long run.

Furthermore, as another person said, when you designed something copyright IS essentially automatic from that point.

There used to be an old thing (which I have no idea if still applies these days) in Britain where if you created something you'd mail it in a latter to yourself and don't open it. Because it'd have a sealed postmark.

Then if you needed to present the evidence in court, there it is.

So consider this sort of thing as a a base to build on just because, then get that more specific advice asap.

[rawWwRrr]

Simply publishing a work here via Steam would present a strong copyright for the author. It provides an actual date of publication and the content of which is all hosted on Steam's servers as proof of that copyright.

The struggle will come from defending that copyright and that comes from hiring legal counsel that specializes in copyright. No armchair lawyer will have the expertise to provide enough legal advice, myself included, to appropriately defend a copyright lawsuit.

If one is serious about doing business in an industry that depends on copyrighted material, they need to be serious about defending that copyright with a competent attorney on retainer.

[crunchyfrog]

İlk olarak rawWwRrr tarafından gönderildi:

Simply publishing a work here via Steam would present a strong copyright for the author. It provides an actual date of publication and the content of which is all hosted on Steam's servers as proof of that copyright.

The struggle will come from defending that copyright and that comes from hiring legal counsel that specializes in copyright. No armchair lawyer will have the expertise to provide enough legal advice, myself included, to appropriately defend a copyright lawsuit.

If one is serious about doing business in an industry that depends on copyrighted material, they need to be serious about defending that copyright with a competent attorney on retainer.

Excellent point.

I would also add to this that because this type of thing would be expensive when you needed it, liability insurance is one thing that should also be looked into, as that can foot the bill - in whole or part - if some numpty sues you.

[Start_Running]

İlk olarak crunchyfrog tarafından gönderildi:

As a former legal advisor, the advice offered here thus far is sound.

DO NOT take anything more than the general things that have been said already, namely - get PROFESSIONAL copyright lawyer advice in your region. Yes, it's going to be an outlay but it will save you money in the long run.

SOme countries have agencies that provide such counselling and advice for free in the same way you have Consumer /Rights/Advocacy/Protection Agencies/Authorities/Associations in some countries. so its worth checking that before going to a lawyer. They won't look over contracts or stuff like that. but they will advise you on the rights, fees, and mostimportantly steps needed to secure those rights.

There used to be an old thing (which I have no idea if still applies these days) in Britain where if you created something you'd mail it in a latter to yourself and don't open it. Because it'd have a sealed postmark.

Poor-man's copyright. It still can be xdone. The key is to send it registered mail,, not regular mail. And its not airtight but it can be useful for at least establishing a date of creation. One can argue that one opened the package after and substituted. But that can be proven via examination and depending on things you'd have to show some level of premeditation that would require near clairvoyance. It;'s not air tightm, but better than nothing and something you can easily do yourself, costs very little and is a good step to take while you work on other aspects.

It's not a lock but it's at least a door, as it were.

[crunchyfrog]

Thanks for that update.

Yup, I should have stated that if one can, ask a solicitor if there's any free legal option or time up front.

[Start_Running]

İlk olarak rawWwRrr tarafından gönderildi:

Simply publishing a work here via Steam would present a strong copyright for the author. It provides an actual date of publication and the content of which is all hosted on Steam's servers as proof of that copyright.

FOr the game, but the materials used within the game are another matter. Someone can for example claiom copyright on a piece of artwork used, a music track, a name, a story, etc.

If one is serious about doing business in an industry that depends on copyrighted material, they need to be serious about defending that copyright with a competent attorney on retainer.

Maybe not on ratainer, but at the very least on speed dial. Again, in some countries, there are agencies that exist for this sort of thing make their services available at low cost.. provided the copyrighted work is registered with them.

[rawWwRrr]

İlk olarak Start_Running tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak rawWwRrr tarafından gönderildi:

Simply publishing a work here via Steam would present a strong copyright for the author. It provides an actual date of publication and the content of which is all hosted on Steam's servers as proof of that copyright.

FOr the game, but the materials used within the game are another matter. Someone can for example claiom copyright on a piece of artwork used, a music track, a name, a story, etc.

If one is serious about doing business in an industry that depends on copyrighted material, they need to be serious about defending that copyright with a competent attorney on retainer.

Maybe not on ratainer, but at the very least on speed dial. Again, in some countries, there are agencies that exist for this sort of thing make their services available at low cost.. provided the copyrighted work is registered with them.

You missed my most important detail regarding copyright:

İlk olarak rawWwRrr tarafından gönderildi:

No armchair lawyer will have the expertise to provide enough legal advice, myself included, to appropriately defend a copyright lawsuit.

The Steam forums will not provide enough legal expertise in this field.

[crunchyfrog]

I'll have you know that I do not sit in an armchair, in any case :)

[Start_Running]

İlk olarak crunchyfrog tarafından gönderildi:

I'll have you know that I do not sit in an armchair, in any case :)

Oh look at mister 'I have a standing workstation.

[crunchyfrog]

İlk olarak Start_Running tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak crunchyfrog tarafından gönderildi:

I'll have you know that I do not sit in an armchair, in any case :)

Oh look at mister 'I have a standing workstation.

Nuh uh.

I lay in bed and fart. Such is life.

[Magma Dragoon]

İlk olarak Start_Running tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak rawWwRrr tarafından gönderildi:

Simply publishing a work here via Steam would present a strong copyright for the author. It provides an actual date of publication and the content of which is all hosted on Steam's servers as proof of that copyright.

FOr the game, but the materials used within the game are another matter. Someone can for example claiom copyright on a piece of artwork used, a music track, a name, a story, etc.

Names are trademarks, not copyrights. And if it were possible to copyright a plot there wouldn't be a million stories about slaying a dragon and saving a princess.