Month: May 2023
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IP Dangers When Using AI Assets in Video Games
In my last post, we went over the recent rise of images generated by artificial intelligence (AI), how they work, and some of the legal risks of using AI assets in video games. There are many legal questions surrounding this, including unsettled ones like whether or not incorporating copyright-protected art into an AI model as…
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AI Art: The Future Of Game Development, Or Risky Infringement?
When I was in high school, I wrote a paper on the possibility of music generated by Artificial Intelligence, or AI. At the time, AI art seemed like a distant dream, one that couldn’t possibly be real outside of science fiction. The thought at the time was that AI would always lack some human element…
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Are Game Mods Illegal? All About Duke Nukem and PointCrow
In April of 2023, YouTuber and Twitch streamer PointCrow was issued copyright strikes against his channel by Nintendo. PointCrow makes “videos playing games, sometimes in strange ways.” On occasion, he “modifies the games [he plays] and explore[s] what happens when the game mechanics are a little different.” What drew Nintendo’s ire was the videos of…
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Understanding Non-Disclosure Agreements in the Game Industry
Non-disclosure agreements can be tempting to protect your game, but it’s important not to use them improperly. There’s a bit of wisdom that goes around game developer circles, especially with new people who think they have the greatest idea for a game in the world. It’s that your ideas are worthless; what matters is how…
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Three Ways that Changes in Monetization Affects Game Design
Games are a unique industry in that they are art, entertainment, and also business. While some idealists may think of the business as totally separate from the art and entertainment – make a good game and people will pay money to play it – the reality is that the business side of things has far-reaching…