Okay this is a beginning piece of work which I will be editing into a full shape over the next month (i.e. sufficient time for anyone who wants to get a post in) as time goes on. What I am interested in is Appropriate (i.e. game development related) terms, useful links, corrections etc. I am not interested in recreating a legal dictionary what I am interested in is creating a very swift reference. Certain things like copyright, trademarks, patents are covered in the FAQ but probably not deep enough in my opinion

By the end of May I basically plan to have this section of the thread re-edited to the point of Titles, a brief description and useful set of links (pref. no more than 3 per term).

NOTE: This does NOT constitute legal advice. This is merely meant to act as a resource aid.

SECTIONS (so far)

• Intellectual Property
  
• Contracts
  
• Business Structures
  
• Useful Sites
  
• Symbols
  
• Acronyms
  
  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - COPYRIGHT
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
  http://www.copyright...ircs/circ01.pdf
  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
  http://en.wikipedia....ht_infringement
  
  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - TRADEMARK
  A trade mark can be one, or a combination of, the following:
  
  
  • a business name
    
  • a product name
    
  • a sub-brand
    
  • a distinctive catch phrase
    
  • a logo, picture or symbol
    
  • a colour, word, letter, number or sound
    
  • a distinctive product shape
    
  • an aspect of packaging
    
  • a scent [size=1]Ref:ActuateIP
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark
    http://www.uspto.gov...rrect_links.pdf
    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT
    http://en.wikipedia....rk_infringement
    
    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - PATENT
    Patent usually refers to the right granted to anyone who invents any new, useful, and non-obvious process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter.[size=1] ref: Wikipedia.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent
    http://www.uspto.gov...ing_patents.jsp
    http://www.inventorb...tent Basics.htm
    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - PATENT INFRINGEMENT
    http://en.wikipedia....nt_infringement
    http://inventors.abo...nfringement.htm
    
    CONTRACT - NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
    http://en.wikipedia....osure_agreement
    CONTRACT - NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT – SAMPLE FORMS
    http://www.ipwatchdo...ity-agreements/
    http://www.mycapital...e-agreement.php
    
    CONTRACT - NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT
    http://en.wikipedia....-compete_clause
    http://jobsearchtech.../aa042202_2.htm
    CONTRACT - NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT – SAMPLE FORMS
    http://www.smartbiz..../view/1033/1/29
    http://agreements.re...tion-Agreement/
    
    CONTRACT - GAME DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (also referred to more generically as "Project/Product development agreement")
    http://www.ehow.com/...definition.html
    CONTRACT - GAME DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT - SAMPLE FORM
    http://contracts.one...000.07.24.shtml
    CONTRACT - GAME DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT - A LAWYER'S REVIEW OF A "Call of Duty" GDA
    http://www.gamasutra...he_.phpBUSINESS
    
    BUSINESS STRUCTURE - SOLE PROPRIETOR
    http://en.wikipedia....Sole_proprietor
    BUSINESS STRUCTURE - PARTNERSHIP
    http://www.entrepren...term/82334.html
    BUSINESS STRUCTURE - LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
    http://en.wikipedia....ability_company
    
    
    USEFUL SITES
    http://www.gameattor...cles/index.html
    http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html
    
    As mentioned, this is a work in progress. The reason I am posting now is to obtain useful additions to the post.
    
    Update: April 20, 2012
    
    Edit: If something like this already exists - could they point it out on the site so I can go "well that saved me a bucket load of future effort".

SYMBOLS

© - Copyright (Alt + 0169)
® - Registered Trade Mark (Alt + 0174)
™ - Trade Mark (Alt + 0153)

ACRONYMS

IP - Intellectual property (note: IP as an acronym does have other associations within the IT industry eg. Internet Protocol)

C, Contr. - Contract
NDA - Non-disclosure agreements
NCC - Non-compete clause
CNC - Covenant not to compete
PDA - Project development agreement

LLC - Limited Liability Company
CO - Company
PTY LTD - Proprietary Limited

A Glossary of Game Biz terms by Tom Sloper aka FAQ: 28
http://www.sloperama...ce/lesson28.htm