Navigating the Nexus of Creativity and Imitation: IP Conundrums in Video Game Cloning Under Copyright
Keywords:
Game Cloning, Audiovisual Works, U.S. IP Regime, Distributive Classification, IP Protection StrategiesAbstract
“Such enormous growth in the video game industry throws tremendous legal challenges, especially about copyright protection. The nuances of copyright law applied to video games is, therefore, a topic followed in two sections by the legal frameworks prevalent in India and the United States. Video games, as with any other form of art, may comprise audiovisual elements, such as plot, characters, scenarios, etc., and underlying software, both of which may come under certain heads of copyright. There is protection for individual components of game works in India's distributive classification system, but U.S. law provides greater and more uniform copyright protections. The paper examines key doctrines-the "idea-expression dichotomy," the "merger doctrine," and "scène à faire"-that are used to distinguish protectable and unprotectable elements when game cloning occurs. Finally, it
explores the economic and creative effects brought about by game cloning and proposes appropriate legal and technological steps that could be taken by game developers to protect their rights. From the comparative perspective, this research work discusses the challenges and solutions available for video game content protection in a fast-paced age of digital progress.”
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