Creativity on Trial: The Broader Implications of Patents on Creative Freedom in Game Development
Video games evolve by creatively refining existing mechanics, but when should inspiration become infringement? As major companies enforce patents to protect their ideas and markets, smaller developers face new creativity challenges. Nintendo v. Pocketpair, Inc. exemplifies this tension and could reshape how the industry balances innovation with intellectual property protection.
Cybersquatting and Large Corporations
There has been recent legal action on behalf of Adidas, as a company not in possession of the Adidas trademark created a domain using the Adidas name and was selling counterfeit Adidas goods. Creating and using a domain name with false intent with a trademark that is owned by another is known as cybersquatting, which is what was being done with the Adidas trademark in this case. Cybersquatting claims have also been made by the company behind the online retailer Temu.
Game Development and Copyright Infringement: Valve, South Korea, and <em> Dark and Darker </em>
This case study illustrates how intellectual property affects the fastest-growing entertainment medium in the world through an analysis of the legal drama surrounding Dark and Darker, a hit indie game that was delisted from digital storefronts following allegations of copyright infringement.