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© Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP 2014
4 IP Issues that can make
[or break] your game studio
James Gatto, Co-leader Social Media and Games
[email protected] 202-747-1945
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IP Protection Process
Own It!
Identify It!
Protect it!
Repeat!
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Who Invented Facebook?
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Question
Once you publish a great video game,
what stops others from copying it?
IP Protection!
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Best Practice #1
OWN IT!
Patents - Absent an agreement or other legal
obligation, patents are owned by the inventor
Copyrights – generally owned by the author
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Best Practice #1
OWN IT!
Founders?
Work for Hire?
Developers?
Publishers?
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Best Practice #1
OWN IT!
Be careful with the rights you grant
exclusives
right of first refusal
geographical rights
adaptations
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Best Practice #2
Identify it!
Games combine
– Interactive, functional aspects
– creative, artistic aspects
Both types are protectable
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Best Practice #2
Identify Your IP!
Patents - Interactive, functional aspects(Game mechanics, game play methods, hardware,
Processes, graphics generation techniques, UI features
Much more)
Copyright - creative, artistic aspects (UI and
code)
Trademark – name/characters
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Best Practice #3
Protect it!
To maximize protection…
Develop Comprehensive IP Strategy
That protects all types of IP You Generate!
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Patents
Strongest form of protection for game mechanics
But you must file for protection!!!
You have One Year (or less)!
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Copyrights
You have protection from the time you create the
work…. but get benefits if you promptly file
– attorneys fees
– statutory damages
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Trademarks
You have protection from the time you use the
work in commerce…. but get benefits if you file
can file intent to use
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Best Practice # 4
Repeat!
IP Protection is an ongoing process…not a one
time event!
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Patent Trends - Filings
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Patent Trends – Litigation
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Questions?
email me for a free white paper:
IP Protection for Games
James Gatto
Sheppard Mullin
202-747-1945
http://www.sheppardmullin.com/social-media-and-games