Tag Archives: software

New ways of looking at video game IP

Posted on December 9, 2008 by Jeremy Costin

This is where we tread the line between copyright and patent – between creative work and invention – that has plagued software intellectual property protection for a very long time. The game bears enough in common with its paper-and-dice ancestors to merit some form of patent consideration; yet the invention here is in fact a platform for storytelling – a tool to inspire and facilitate the creation of content by its users. Continue reading →

Posted in Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Video Games, Virtual Worlds | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Software IP and Games – which model applies?

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Jeremy Costin

At the moment, video games, because they are software, are covered by copyright.  But traditionally, games were covered by patent. Hmm.  I’ve argued before that software should be sui generis, governed by a hybrid model of patent and copyright: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are there benefits to “piracy”?

Posted on November 6, 2008 by Jeremy Costin

The pro-copyright lobby groups would have you believe that all unauthorized reproduction (and distribution), colloquially known (inaccurately) as piracy, is horrid for the industries concerned, and is destroying them. Many say that unauthorized copying actually benefits the concerned industries. Do you think this is true? If so, which industry benefits the most? I’ve created a poll and I would like you to let me know what you think. Feel free to comment to this post. Continue reading →

Posted in Business Law, Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment