Hi,

Obscure, then I should take legal steps to obtain a copyright, right? Maybe I ought to.

I wish things were more simple. But you have to play by the rules. I'll see how I can get my work copyrighted.

I also took a peek at your site, Obscure, good info there. It got me thinking whether I should do full time game development. But it's a long way ahead. Let's see how things go.

Right now I need to do this properly.

Any more suggestions and comments are welcome.

Thanks.

Niteen Hatle

The real value in a big successful game is the IP (intellectual property rights - copyright, patents and trademarks). These can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Registering a copyright costs a reletively small fee (depending on the laws in your particular country) but actually going to court to defend those rights can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars (you need an experienced IP lawyer). - in other words it is cheap to register but very expensive to defend.

If this project is a real business then it is worth getting a lawyer to sort out copyright registration for you. If this is your first game (it will likely be worth virtually nothing) or just a hobby project and you don't have the money to defend a case in court there isn't much point in worrying about registration.

If your game does turn out to be the next GTA and you earn a fortune then get a lawyer and sort out registration.

from what i just read from my governments website, canda (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_protect-e.html#1) i get an automatic copyright when i am finished my game. Although the games name, and logo are not protected by copyright and i need a patent. are my findings correct?

Quote: The U.S. Copyright Office increased basic registration fees to $45 per application effective July 1, 2006. Fees that changed include registrations, document recordation, supplementary registration, search services, certificates, and additional certificates. Any request received in the U.S. Copyright Office on or after July 1, 2006, for a service whose fee increased on that date must be accompanied by the new fee.

And other COSTS

Quote: Original post by Break
from what i just read from my governments website, canda (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_protect-e.html#1) i get an automatic copyright when i am finished my game. Although the games name, and logo are not protected by copyright and i need a patent. are my findings correct?

First part yes, second part no.
Copyright is automatic, although you may find you get better protection if you pay to register.
On the issue of names and logos these are Trademarks, not patents.

[Edited by - Obscure on July 7, 2006 5:16:31 AM]

Hi,

Okay, Obscure, I am convinced I should register for a copyright. But what if my game is a clone of an original game (Mario Forever by Buziol Games, for eg.)? What then? Should I apply to the original game publisher for license to make a clone? Would I have the copyright?

What if I don't want to make profit by making the game? Can I make profits in the first place?

If its not stretching too far!!

But I have to make sure I don't get into trouble in future.

Thanks.

Niteen Hatle.

Quote: Original post by niteenhatle
Hi,

Okay, Obscure, I am convinced I should register for a copyright. But what if my game is a clone of an original game (Mario Forever by Buziol Games, for eg.)? What then? Should I apply to the original game publisher for license to make a clone? Would I have the copyright?

What if I don't want to make profit by making the game? Can I make profits in the first place?

If its not stretching too far!!

But I have to make sure I don't get into trouble in future.

Thanks.

Niteen Hatle.

i dont think you can make profit, since mario is a trademark of nintendo. but your game is already protected when you right it.

Hi,

Break, what does it mean? If i make a Mario clone, I can't sell it online? I can't make some money out of advertisements as well?

Should I register a copyright the mario clone(if i make it)?

Sorry for the trouble.

Thanks.

Niteen Hatle

Define clone.
If you mean a platform game with a character that isn't actually Mario but the game plays in the same way as Mario games (running, jumping, bouncing on things), then you could copyright that (provided it was all your own work and didn't use sound or graphics from the original).

If you copy a Mario game and make graphics/sound which look like Mario then that is a breach of copyright. You can't copyright that because Nintendo own Mario. You aren't allowed to make such a game or distribute it (either for money or free).

Hi,

Obscure, I want to make a character different than Mario. Giving it a local look. But I have to say this that the enemies might be different and the sound is going to be different. The game play will be similiar and maybe the levels might look similiar as well but not a total copy.

What would be you advice then?

I have played Mario Forever by Buziol Games a lot of times. How are they distributing it?

Thanks for replying Obscure.

Niteen Hatle.