File Copyright Online - File mutual Divorce in Delhi - Online Legal Advice - Lawyers in India

Intellectual Property Rights And The Video Games

All games, regardless of their type, content, country of origin, target platform or supporting media, comprise some combination of copyrights, trademarks, patented technology and trade secrets. A finished game often contains many different intellectual properties, owned by many different parties. Sort of like a soup, it can contain a few ingredients or many.

Just as a soup's ingredients are categorized - broth, meat, vegetable, herbs/spices - the IP "ingredients" or assets in a game generally fall into basic categories: code, art, audio, and design. Within each category, some assets are created "from scratch" while others are licensed from others, whether for reasons of efficiency or publicity. The individual assets may be protected by copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, or some combination of the above. The following list will parse out some common property rights found in a completed game and the assets to which they might apply.

Copyrights in Games

Copyright is probably the best-known Intellectual Property Right (IPR) to the game industry at large and sometimes considered to be the only relevant IPR in this area. Anything that can be fixed in a tangible medium (including computer media) can be the subject of copyright: source, object and machine code, artwork, design docs, budgets, and business plans, some user interface and program structure, sequence and organization. At its most basic level, copyright in a finished game protects the code embedded on the medium, e.g. the DVD-ROM, the cartridge or even the file made available for download.

Entertainment software piracy is typically fought as copyright theft actions rather than any other type of action, because it is often much easier to prove than patent or trademark infringement: the test is that the copyrighted work is copied or not. It is a mind-boggling puzzle to the uninitiated to determine exactly the scope of copyright protection in a game, because there exists as many different copyrights in the game as original works of authorship featured therein.

For instance, the musical score, the game-specific font, the artwork, the code in its entirety or in function-specific portions, etc. may each be subject to the copyright of a different author.

Types of Copyrights Found in Finished Games

Adopting a top-down approach to this exercise, the following types of copyright may apply to a finished game:
  • The code encompassing all of the features of the game (graphical user interface, music, speech, etc.) attracts copyright protection as a literary work, because it is the expression in written, albeit coded form of these features.
  • All of the original design documents, either as computer files or sketches or print-outs also attract copyright protection as literary works, because they are expressed in writing.
  • Concept artwork may separately attract copyright protection as artistic works - but note that there is no requirement that they be "artistic" in the "pleasing to the eye" sense of the word, merely that they be graphic works (or sculpture, photograph or collage).
  • Motion capture data may attract copyright protection as a dramatic work, since a dramatic work is generally understood to include a "work of dance or mime".
  • The plot or script may also attract separate copyright protection as a dramatic work.
  • The musical components of the game, whether relating to cut scenes or in-game audio, will attract separate copyright protection as musical works; note that only the printed or encoded musical score attracts this type of copyright protection, since the lyrics are protected as a literary work.
  • Generally, any type of sound sample, or reproducible combination of sound samples, attracts copyright protection as a sound recording.

A finished game may also fit the legal definition of a sound recording, film, broadcast or cable program, attracting additional forms of copyright protection. Some examples are provided below:

A game might fit the legal definition of a sound recording in the sense that it reproduces encoded sound. An in-game song therefore attracts three copyrights (musical, literary and sound recording) whilst speech samples attract two or three different copyrights (literary, sound recording and - depending on the degree to which voice acting pertains to the plot of the game - a dramatic work copyright).

For the purposes of copyright protection, films are legally defined as "a recording on any medium from which a moving image may by any means be produced." A game might fit the legal definition of a film, and therefore be protected by a film copyright, insofar as it is stored on a medium and reproduces encoded moving images. Note that the definition only refers to the image, because the soundtrack will have a separate copyright as a sound recording.

A finished game incorporating wireless networking technology may attract copyright protection as a "broadcast", which is legally defined as "a transmission by means of wireless telegraphy as visual images, sounds or other information which is capable of being lawfully received by members of the public, or which is transmitted for presentation to members of the public".

A cable program is legally defined as "consisting of wholly or mainly of visual images, sounds or other information", wherein the difference is that a "broadcast" is a wireless transmission, eg "over the airwaves", whereas a "cable program" is a transmission "by means of a telecommunications system other than wireless telegraphy".

Both the broadcast case and the cable program case offer unresolved legal scenarios. Mere use of a wireless network doesn't constitute a broadcast - but what does? What constitutes conveyance over a telecommunications system? The downloading of the game? The transmission of images over an AV cable from game console to television?

The above analysis only outlines the vast complexity of determining the extent of copyright protection in a finished game. This extent will obviously depend upon both the type and size of the game itself, but protection is only available so long as the work it relates to is tangible, ie it is expressed (in code, obviously) and not merely an idea in the mind of the developer.

Copyright Example

By way of example, let's consider a simple example with a classic game known to all, Tetris. At its most basic, the game inventor Alexey Pajitnov would originally own the copyright in:
  • The game code as a literary work;
  • The display as a graphic work; and
  • The tunes as a musical work

If, however, at least one of the tunes was written by a friend, then this friend would own the copyright in the musical work BUT Mr Pajitnov would still own the copyright in the code comprising this tune, although possibly infringing his friend's copyright.

Similarly, if the patterns on the bricks in the display were taken from abstract drawings by yet another friend, then again this other friend would own the copyright in the Tetris bricks BUT Mr Pajitnov would still own the copyright in the code and display comprising those bricks, although infringing his friend's copyright.

Copyright is the basis of license-based games and, in the 'Tetris' example above, Mr Pajitnov would therefore seek a license with both his friends to legally include their respective original works of authorship in his game.

Today's games comprise 3D worlds full of avatars, realistic models and textures, dialogue, music, lyrics, cut-scenes, etc. Potentially many more copyright licenses need to be addressed in the production of a contemporary game.

Trademarks in Games

The first and most obvious use of trademarks in games are the names and logos associated with the game, the publisher, and developer. Commonly, publishers and developers will have registered their company name and/or logo and/or even signature sound sample as trademarks, whereby these are traditionally included within the game in splash screens during the game's introduction, possibly, further within the graphical user interface of the game itself, and on the box and advertisements.

The specific characters, places and weapons will also be the subject of a trademark, in some cases these are licensed from other entertainment properties.

Beyond the trademarks associated with the game as a product, there is frequently inclusion of trademarks or servicemarks not directly related to the game itself or its developers or publishers, by way of textures implemented onto in-game billboards, models, racing cars etc. This can be done for the purpose of heightening the immersion or accuracy portrayed by the game, or as advertising for those real-life sponsors. An example would be the livery of a rally car during the 2003 season, complete with real-life sponsors' names and decals plastered all over, all of which are expectedly real-life registered trademarks.

Whereas the use of real-life registered trademarks in games can be a desirable state of affairs, in that it lends a degree of reality portrayal, there is a danger that some trademark owners either will not want to license their brand for reproduction in a game or -worse- will not actually have a right to do so. In addition, if permission is obtained, the trademark owners will require their mark to be accurately portrayed.

Pushing this comment to its logical extreme, owners of registered trademarks or servicemarks may even insist upon the inclusion of the international legal notice and - if this insistence is only notified late in the development cycle – this may generate supplemental, unnecessary overheads.

Types of Trademarks Found in Finished Games

  • Game name and logo
  • Company name and logo
  • Technology name
  • Platform and manufacturer name
  • Distinctive sounds or colours
  • Name and character designs of characters
  • Slogans of original IP
  • Unique weapons
  • Other valuable marks

Trademark Example

Readers with an inquisitive mind may want to consult a judgment by Justice Jacob (UK, Court of Appeal) on 26/06/02 against THQ following a trademark dispute between the Fund (formerly World Wildlife Fund) and the World Wrestling Federation, whereby THQ's continued marketing of its World Wrestling Federation licensed games in the UK with the newly disallowed WWF logo would amount to contempt of court because of the logo's presence on-screen, whether as a splashscreen or as an arena-billboard texture!

This example makes the point that even a licensor may encounter trademark issues that can spill over retroactively into a game. While this example could not have been anticipated by the game developer, care should always be taken about trademark and/or servicemark inclusion in screens, textures or any other portion of the game.

Patents in Games

Patents are the least-known IPR to the game industry and usually held as the most expensive and frequently irrelevant IPR. They certainly are the most controversial. It may come as a surprise to the industry, however, that software patents have been granted for a lot longer than attention has been devoted to the subject both in the US and in European game communities, and that a growing proportion of those are very relevant to technology used for modern game application, be it in the fields of scene rendering, networking, user interfaces, animation and algorithms to speed up any of these.

It is comparably harder to determine which patented technology is routinely incorporated in games but, by way of example, any title making use of semi-transparent menus or multiple frame buffering or distributing portions of the game world across networks, could be potentially infringing on one or more patents; the list goes on, interminably. Whether the patent assignee decides to challenge the use made of the technology protected therein depends entirely upon what the assignee has to gain from asserting its existence and validity.

Patents last for about 20 years, depending upon the jurisdiction. Many once-lucrative patents covering base computing technologies such as side-scrolling or use of interchangeable ROM cartridges have lapsed into the public domain. Nonetheless, 20 years is a long time in game development, and some technology or algorithm developed 5 years ago for which patents were granted only last year may remain valid and useable for the next 10 to 15 years. In lean times or for an assignee developer on the acquisition trail, enforceable patents that are infringed present significant opportunities.

Types of Patents Found in Finished Games
Areas of a game that could involve patents include:
  • Applied algorithms
  • Display presentation
  • Menu arrangement
  • Editing functions
  • Control functions
  • User interface features
  • Compiling techniques
  • Program languages
  • Translation methods
  • Utilities
  • Formulae to control program execution or process data
  • Many other areas
Patent Example
Controversy tends to arise when patents sometimes issue on inventions that seem obvious to those more involved in the industry in question, or when patent holders sometimes attempt to enforce patents in scenarios to which they do not apply. But sometimes, valid patents issue and the claim of infringement is valid.

U.S. Patent No. 4,662,635, Video Game With Playback of Live Events, covers the use of "separable action events performed by living beings which remain as originally recorded when played back" (in other words, pre-recorded live action sequences) in a specific type of video game.

According to public press releases and articles in Wired Magazine, the legal representative of the patent holder sent a certified letter to Scott Miller (CEO, Apogee Software Ltd.) in August of 1997 demanding that Apogee "immediately cease and desist from further manufacture, sale and use of such animated video games" including Duke Nukem 3D.

Mr Miller was obviously distressed, and suggested that the patent should not have been granted and that the game industry fight to have the patent overturned. Duke Nukem 3D spawned several sequels, which are still being manufactured and sold.

Did the patent apply, or didn't it?
Some would argue that U.S. Patent No. 4,662,635 applies only to games in which the user selects which branch of a story to follow, causing a VCR or DVD to advance to the corresponding scene. Others would argue that it applies to any pre-recorded live performance in a video game. You can examine the patent yourself at http://www.uspto.gov. Pay particular attention to the section labeled "Claims," as it is the section that matters most in Court.

Whether the patent applied to Duke Nukem 3D or not, the claim of infringement created a substantial business distraction for Apogee. Regardless of the perceived validity, receiving a "cease and desist" letter of this kind is a sure sign you need the services of a patent lawyer.

Trade Secrets in Games
Trade Secret would apply when developers do not release their game and asset source code to the public, and take measures to prevent disclosure of this source code to both the public and competitors. This does not apply to open source games or those games where the source code and graphics are easily viewable (for example, on a CD as part of a "mod kit"). Trade Secret protection acknowledges the right of a business owner or corporation to keep business information secret for purposes of supporting the business or maintaining a competitive advantage.

Types of Trade Secrets Found in Finished Games
Trade secrets may include:

• Source code

• Object code

• Machine code

• Firmware

• Any concepts, ideas, methods, processes, or documents related to the creation of software or other game assets, including characters, storylines, drawings, including tools and techniques

• Business plans and methods

• Marketing plans

• Customer lists

• Databases

• Many others



Trade Secret Example:
The Quake 2 game engine from id software has been licensed privately to dozens of companies, and has also been released to the open source community under the GNU Public License (GPL). Raven Software then licensed the Quake 2 engine privately to create the game Heretic II, and modified the engine to provide an intelligent 3rd person camera. Subsequently, Raven Software released some of the source code to Heretic II for use by the "mod" community, but did not release the source code for the 3rd person camera or other engine modifications as they were considered trade secrets.

Conclusion
It seems that the most fitting solution to the problems facing the mobile gaming industry is to allow the market to figure it out on its own. Overbearing copyright rules could stifle creativity especially in an industry that thrives on putting a different spin on the ideas of others. For every Mino or Yeti Town, there is a Halo or a Call of Duty that takes the established genre of game and puts a unique spin upon it. Creating a certification system would protect only those who had established a profitable game and could possibly keep innovation from reaching the market.

To further expand protection could create a situation where unfinished works or abandoned projects could have a significant impact on the legal system. We sometimes expect that self-motivated authors, who write for the pure fun of it, will thrive best if copyright takes its boot off their necks. But a better picture, I think, is that there are plenty of authors who also by their desire not to be homeless.

The extrinsic motivations of a copyright-supported business model provide an "incentive," to be sure, but that incentive takes the form of allowing them to indulge their intrinsic motivations to be creative Because of the dangers of overreaction, allowing the market to police itself without creating an overarching regulatory scheme will allow the mobile game industry to thrive and sort out the competitors who enter the market solely to steal the ideas of other creators.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the current statues do not provide protection to the game developers in India. While the development of the gaming industry has seen massive growth but the laws are yet to provide unambiguous IP protection to the developers. Modern Interactive gaming includes characters, levels storyline, gameplay that is a whole new category for the authors. The definition of an author leaves out creative elements of technology used for creating video games.

The inclusion of words like computer generated in the definition of an author cannot cover this industry and its various components which require detailed attention. The definitions were inserted when technology had just about started emerging and was not all pervasive. Now, of course, they need to be re-visited. Increasing gamers have found ways to get games at a lower price to play it on the consoles.

Downloading games and uploading it on a disk to play it on computer and game consoles makes it necessary that the laws provide for provisions to prevent infringement. The absence of legislative protection creates problem amongst Indian and international developers since a large number of video games developed outside are played in India. The lawmakers need to examine, agree and implement a law on the legal classification of video games, developed in India and outside India which, in turn, will afford the necessary protection to the developers.

Law Article in India

Ask A Lawyers

You May Like

Legal Question & Answers



Lawyers in India - Search By City

Copyright Filing
Online Copyright Registration


LawArticles

How To File For Mutual Divorce In Delhi

Titile

How To File For Mutual Divorce In Delhi Mutual Consent Divorce is the Simplest Way to Obtain a D...

Increased Age For Girls Marriage

Titile

It is hoped that the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which intends to inc...

Facade of Social Media

Titile

One may very easily get absorbed in the lives of others as one scrolls through a Facebook news ...

Section 482 CrPc - Quashing Of FIR: Guid...

Titile

The Inherent power under Section 482 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (37th Chapter of t...

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India: A...

Titile

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a concept that proposes the unification of personal laws across...

Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Legal...

Titile

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various sectors of the economy, and the legal i...

Lawyers Registration
Lawyers Membership - Get Clients Online


File caveat In Supreme Court Instantly