Re: Copywriting

From: pem@cadnetix.COM (Paul Meyer)

Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1990 19:20:43 +0000

In article <90039.114604JJK106@PSUVM.BITNET> JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>    I recently finished writing the rules for a game, and I wish to get them
>copywritten so once I develop it for whatever means of play (either computer
>or board), I can try to market it or sell it to a game company without
>worring about my idea being taken from me.  Does anyone have any information
>about how I would go about copywriting the rules, or if that is even possible.

Sorry, copyright only covers the specific expression of the rules,
not the rules themselves.  You can *patent* an idea if it is *new, unique,
and innovative*--this is next to impossible for a game or a piece of software,
but has been applied to a few algorithms.  "Look and feel" copyrights cover
audio-visual things, and must be based on the actual look and feel of a
product, not an idea for one.  In the case of a board game, you can copyright
the board layout, cards, etc., but the game can be effectively "cloned"
despite that (look at Monopoly, then look at Easy Money).

(Now dealing with software more specifically.  I don't have as
	much confidence that this applies to board games as to computer
	games, as I haven't researched this stuff from that angle:)

The way to protect your idea from a cheapshot company is to do a
nondisclosure agreement with them before you send the idea in.  Most companies
are unlikely to give you the kind of protection you seem to want, though--
you have no way of knowing if they already have somebody working on a
very similar idea, and neither do they until they've seen your idea.  Your
best protection is to deal with a company that has a reputation to worry
about, rather than with venture capitalists.

For computer games, what you really need to do is subscribe to the
Journal of Computer Game Design, get some of the back issues that have
articles dealing with these topics, and/or get onto GEnie and visit the JCGD
Roundtable and ask your question there.  I'm just a wannabe (like yourself,
but from appearances a couple of years closer to being a professional game
developer than you are--I started on these questions over two years ago);
many big names, like Chris Crawford and Mark Baldwin, hang out in the Journal
RT and write for the Journal.

For the case of board games, you might get some input from people
on the Games RT on GEnie (mnemonic Scorpia), or from the legal-issues
forum on C$ (I suspect GEnie has something like it, but I haven't looked...).
You might also check in bookstores for legal-advice books.  In no case is
any of this as good as consulting a good lawyer, but you'd be wise to use
these less-expensive ways to become familiar with the issues before shelling
out that kind of money.

I, OF COURSE, AM NOT A LAWYER.  If you get the idea that I am, and/or
treat this advice with the confidence you would advice from a lawyer, you
overestimate the reasonability of our legal system.

Paul Meyer                      pem@cadnetix.COM
Daisy/Cadnetix Inc. (DAZIX)	{uunet,boulder}!cadnetix!pem
5775 Flatirons Pkwy.            GEnie P.MEYER  CI$ 73627,1274  AoL LordKorath
Boulder, CO 80301               (303)444-8075x277

References

Copywriting
JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff kochosky)
Thu, 08 Feb 1990 16:46:04 +0000