What legal stuff needs to be done for a video game

RomanRobot · 08-07-2011, 07:27 PM

Hi there. I'm working on an action adventure role-playing puzzle game (lol, I know) and I'm not to savvy in the legal department. I'm wondering what is everything legal I need to do. I spoke to my Dad and he told me I had to get the name trademarked, which I had assumed, but he said something about copyrighting or patenting my idea. Does that need to be done for a game? As of now I'm thinking just trademarking the name of the game. How would I do that? What else needs to be done?

Thank you in advance for your help. ^.^

ilmman · 08-07-2011, 07:52 PM

never did anything for my game... if you assume that you are going to be a success.. Then doing the above said things would help..

me im just a lazy mfer

RomanRobot · 08-08-2011, 12:31 AM

Everyone wants to be, no? Why would everyone work so hard? I'd say better safe than sorry. So I'm saying in the case it would be needed. What else would I need besides a trademark for the name? I also have a pretty original concept I might want to patent or copyright; whatever applies.

**JasonR** · 08-08-2011, 01:01 AM

I'm pretty sure you can apply for a Trademark online at uspto.gov. Many people seem to be able to do it by themselves, but read everything on that site carefully, as doing it wrong could make your trademark invalid.

Copyright is automatic in the US (I'm assuming PR means Puerto Rico). You can register with the Copyright office if you want to be able to sue for more damages, but it usually not necessary.

Patents are another story. After the Lodsys story (Google it if you've not heard of it), most of us in the iPhone developer community are very against patents. And they are expensive to get and to defend. You would usually only try to get a patent if you have investors giving you a lot of money and legal assistance to make your product.

I'm am not a lawyer, the above is just based on being in this business for a while and hearing a lot of stories.

RomanRobot · 08-08-2011, 03:07 AM

So I'm getting that the only thing necessary really is the trademark of the name. I'm not sure how suing for damages would work, remember it's for a video game. I'd want to be the owner of my idea, so that noone else could use it in their video game.

tanukush · 08-08-2011, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanRobot

So I'm getting that the only thing necessary really is the trademark of the name. I'm not sure how suing for damages would work, remember it's for a video game. I'd want to be the owner of my idea, so that noone else could use it in their video game.

As far as i know its very difficult to patent a game idea or Gameplay and its very expensive too.You get Copyright automatically and you dont need to apply for it.Copyright covers your actual work but not gameplay or idea. No one can use your artwork or code u have written.But people can create clones of the game. I think game idea or gameplay patents are tough to get.

I am not a legal advisor , i just wrote what i have read in many forums/Articles.