{"id":1001,"date":"2025-12-03T11:29:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2025-12-03T11:29:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:29:31","slug":"ready-player-one-copyright-and-gaming-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/2025\/12\/ready-player-one-copyright-and-gaming-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready Player One? Copyright and Gaming Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press Start: Copyright in Video Gaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    This is part 1 of two parts blog series which looks at copyright implications in the gaming world. Part 1 will look at video gaming while part 2 will look at board games. When it comes to video gaming and copyright, it can be a bit of a maze. Because of the complex nature of video games and the multiple parts it contains, it can be difficult to navigate the complexity of copyright<\/strong>. As copyright is territorial, the way video games are perceived and protected in other countries is also a complex matter. However, as usual, we will mainly look at how copyright applies in video games in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The worldwide gaming market is projected<\/a> to be around $ 29,48 billion. The UK has around 10,84 million gamers and this community is forecast to increase by 6,64% by 2027. Battle royale games reign supreme as the top online gaming format, according to the Academy of Animated Art. As of March 2025, Fortnite<\/a> was leading the charts<\/a> of most viewed hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How does copyright law intersect with gaming culture? <\/em>Let\u2019s read the rulebook to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Rulebook: What is Copyright in Gaming?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A video game or computer game<\/a> is an electronic game which is usually played on a device. Video games are generally categorised according to their hardware platform, which includes arcade video games, console games and computer games. More recently, the video game industry has expanded into mobile devices, virtual and augmented reality and remote cloud gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the UK, copyright law is governed by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. While the Act does not list video games as a distinct category of protected works, games are safeguarded through the copyright of their individual components. The underlying computer code or any fixed medium qualifies as a literary work, while the game\u2019s narrative and presentation may be protected as literary or dramatic works. Visual elements such as character designs, artwork, and audio components\u2014including music and sound effects\u2014are also eligible for copyright protection. However, aspects like overall \u2018look and feel\u2019 or core gameplay mechanics fall outside the scope of copyright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For copyright to apply a work needs to be original, and the author\u2019s own intellectual creation. Copyright lasts for the lifetime of the author plus seventy years for any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works and for fifty years after creation for computer-generated works and sound recordings or broadcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the UK, as an employee the first copyright owner will be your employer, unless there is an agreement to the contrary. As such, anything you create during your employment as part of your job, copyright will be automatically assigned to the employer. As an example, if you are a games developer and you work for EA Games, whatever you develop for them will belong to them. Issues might arise when freelance developers or other third parties are commissioned to create aspects of a game. By default, the copyright will belong to the freelance developer or third party unless an agreement to the contrary exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Levelling up: Intellectual Property (IP) protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Shielding inventions with Patents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Copyright is not the only protection applied to the video games. There are also the other types of protection, like patents. Patents in video games typically protect innovative technical solutions rather than creative content. They can cover aspects like game engines, rendering techniques, networking systems, or unique hardware integrations that enable new gameplay experiences. Unlike copyrights, which safeguard artistic elements such as graphics and music, patents focus on functional inventions that provide a novel and non-obvious technical advantage. This means developers who create groundbreaking mechanics or technologies\u2014such as advanced physics engines or VR interaction systems\u2014may seek patents to secure exclusive rights and prevent competitors from using the same innovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some notable gaming technology patents include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n