Copyright and Trademark

The Games Industry in 2025: Our Optimistic Perspective

By / January 16, 2025

The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster for the games industry, with significant layoffs and economic challenges dampening spirits. However, 2025 brings a sense of optimism. Many have managed to “survive to 25.” The industry is poised for recovery, with growth opportunities across emerging markets, cultural shifts, and technological advancements. Political uncertainty may …

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Trademark: USPTO 2025 Fee Hikes

By / January 23, 2025

The USPTO is raising its trademark-related fees beginning January 15, 2025. TL;DR: Anyone considering filing a trademark application should assess whether the new fees will apply to them. If so, they could consider filing before January 15, to save on fees. Also, Trademark Registration holders who need to submit maintenance documents, should do so before …

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Option Agreements vs Shopping Agreements: Turning a Screenplay, Novel, Board Game, Video Game and more into Film and Television

By / March 21, 2025

Whether a creator has designed an immersive tabletop game, written a page turning novel, or developed an innovative video game – receiving interest from others in turning their creative work (Property) into a television show or movie is an exciting prospect. But the terminology of Option Agreements, Shopping Agreements, Attachment Agreements and more can be …

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Odin Law and Media Files Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court Supporting Digital Privacy in Trademark Applications

By / January 9, 2025

Firm challenges US Patent and Trademark Office’s privacy-compromising requirement for domicile addresses FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Raleigh, NC – 16 July 2024 –Odin Law and Media (OLM), a leading firm specializing in digital media and game development law, is proud to announce its representation of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and CodeMiko in filing an amicus brief …

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Video Game Developers and Work For Hire Agreements

By / March 21, 2025

Indie developers frequently outsource portions of game development to independent contributors (i.e., contractors). But depending on what agreements, if any, the primary devs have in place with any contracted contributors, the primary devs might not own their game outright. Even so, when devs start making a game, one of the last things they think about …

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Understanding Open Source Licenses: A Guide for Game Developers

By / March 21, 2025

When working on a game development or software project, understanding open source licenses is crucial. These licenses dictate how developers can use, modify, and distribute open source software. In this blog post, we’ll break down the essentials of open source licenses, focusing on the differences between permissive and copyleft licenses, and how they impact the …

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Understanding license agreements for Creators

By / January 9, 2025

At some point in the video game space, game developers, content creators, esports players, other creatives, and virtually any other stakeholder who is in front of a camera or creating something that goes on screen, will enter into an agreement that licenses their content or their name, image, and likeness. Understanding the key terms around …

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AI Best Practices

By / January 9, 2025

As video game development continues to evolve, more game developers are turning to generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create engaging and immersive gaming experiences. From generating unique game content to optimizing game performance, AI tools offer a plethora of possibilities in video game development. However, using AI tools comes with its own set of …

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