{"id":2551,"date":"2023-05-12T16:18:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T16:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/clapat-themes.com\/wordpress\/ernest\/?p=2551"},"modified":"2024-12-13T16:00:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T16:00:05","slug":"aspetti-legali-game-design-document","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/legal-aspects-game-design-document\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Design Document: 5 legal aspects to consider"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2551\" class=\"elementor elementor-2551\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-562256a6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"562256a6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26ee4bd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26ee4bd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 07-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h5><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Il game design document<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Creating a video game can be a very enjoyable but equally complex and arduous process. There are numerous aspects that need to be defined, both related to the commercial aspect (e.g., the business model, game funding) and to the defining elements of the video game itself.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Typically, the formalization of these elements involves the drafting of a Game Design Document or GDD. This document describes the vision and specifications of the video game, including its objectives, gameplay mechanics, characters, environments, gameplay, and other important details.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The game design document is usually created by the game design team and is used as a guide for game development. Its purpose is to ensure that the game is developed consistently with its original vision and that all team members understand its specifications.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The game design document is not inherently a legal document; rather, its content consists of a collection and description of the elements that characterize the video game. Nevertheless, involving legal counsel in the drafting phase can bring concrete benefits and, in<\/p>\n<p>To better understand, let's look at some more specific situations.<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>Use of third-party created elements<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>Among the defining elements of the game, there may be elements with creative character originating from third parties outside the company. For example, consider the case where a video game is developed based on a book or a movie, or when the video game references certain elements attributable to other video games or artistic works (even just through the use of a song by a third-party artist).<\/p>\n<p>Intellectual works may, under certain conditions, be subject to copyright protection. The use of third-party works in the game design document may require an assessment to determine if it is necessary to obtain appropriate licenses and how these licenses should be structured.<\/p>\n<p>Violating the copyright or intellectual property rights of third parties (for example, the unlawful use of a trademark) can result not only in costs for the company in terms of damages but may also require the removal of the infringing element from the video game, which could play an important role in the game's design itself.<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>Processing of personal data<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>Another topic that deserves legal analysis is the handling of personal data. Depending on the functioning of the game, a certain collection and subsequent processing of players' personal data may be envisaged. Developers' processing may occur for various purposes, from marketing to game operation. In some cases, the game may require a more substantial collection of data or may involve more complex processing. Involving legal counsel in the game's ideation phase can be an important asset in defining the best way to handle user data without violating relevant regulations.<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>Creative elements and game design document<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>With regard to the elements of the video game built by the game design team, it is important to remember that not all of these elements are necessarily subject to copyright protection.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright does not protect creative ideas per se but rather intellectual works, provided certain conditions are met. Elements such as characters, original music, and graphics of certain environments may enjoy copyright protection.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding which elements can be protected by copyright, and under what conditions, offers an undeniable advantage in terms of the game's commercialization and promotion. Special mention should also be made of the software. This may fall within the scope of copyright law as \"computer program\" and, therefore, as an intellectual work. For its protection, requirements for the protection of intellectual works, such as originality and creativity, are required.<\/p>\n<p>Legal assistance may be particularly important for managing software and related licenses, for example, in cases where development is outsourced to a third-party company that supports the design team and project management team.<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>Use of delicate practices<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>There are several more or less common practices in the world of video games that can have important legal implications. To mention a couple, we can certainly first refer to the practice of in-game advertising. This consists of inserting advertising messages within the video game, which can take various forms. Consider, for example, the insertion of billboards visible to users freely moving in the provided space within an open-world game or the famous sideline advertising banners in FIFA.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">Another practice that could have significant legal consequences is certainly that of so-called loot boxes. These could be defined as \"boxes\" that, once purchased, produce random items (skins, weapons, game elements, etc.) unpredictable by the purchasing player. Authorities in some European states have classified loot boxes as gambling, typically challenging their promotion in the absence of a license. Lastly, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gameswirtschaft.de\/wirtschaft\/fifa-lootboxen-sony-klage-gluecksspiel-oesterreich-040423\/\">Austrian Supreme Court<\/a> has specifically classified FIFA's loot boxes as gambling.<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>Use of blockchain technology<\/strong><\/em><\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<div class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-5\">\n<div class=\"px-4 py-2 justify-center text-base md:gap-6 m-auto\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-1 text-base mx-auto gap-3 md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem] group final-completion\">\n<div class=\"relative flex w-full flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"ac671007-3771-4db4-bd77-c5ea63cde5fc\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>A recent trend in the gaming world is to associate the use of blockchain technology with video games, typically in play-to-earn mechanisms. The use, for example, of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) allows users to exercise greater rights over assets acquired by playing, usually being able to sell, trade, and transfer them. Resorting to mechanisms of this kind through NFTs could entail the application of specific provisions relating to particularly regulated areas (for example, rules of financial market law, if NFTs can be classified as financial products or instruments).<\/p>\n<p>The rules applicable to blockchain-based products (e.g. tokens and cryptocurrencies) may become particularly relevant and should be taken into account when drafting a game design document for a blockchain based videogame.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-432dbc2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"432dbc2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-389115d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"389115d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57df3df elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-share-buttons--skin-gradient elementor-share-buttons--shape-square elementor-grid-0 elementor-share-buttons--color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"57df3df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" 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class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_telegram\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on telegram\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-telegram\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTelegram\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on linkedin\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-linkedin\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_whatsapp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on whatsapp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-whatsapp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhatsApp\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e2de2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0e2de2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f2721-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551#wpcf7-f2721-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\" data-trp-original-action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551#wpcf7-f2721-o1\">\n<div style=\"display: none;\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"2721\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"5.9.4\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f2721-o1\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_recaptcha_response\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"contact-formular\" class=\"disable-drag\">\n\t<div class=\"name-box has-animation\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-name\"><input size=\"40\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"What&#039;s Your Name\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-name\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"email-box has-animation\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-email\"><input size=\"40\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your E-mail\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"your-email\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"message-box has-animation\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-message\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"10\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Tell Us About Your Project\" name=\"your-message\"><\/textarea><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"check-box\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"checkbox-60\"><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-checkbox wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"privacy_check\"><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item first last\"><label><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"checkbox-60[]\" value=\"accept privacy policy\" \/><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item-label\">accept privacy policy<\/span><\/label><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"button-box has-animation\" data-delay=\"100\">\n\t<div class=\"clapat-button-wrap parallax-wrap hide-ball\">\n\t\t<div class=\"clapat-button parallax-element\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"button-border rounded parallax-element-second\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Send Mail\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n@media only screen and (max-width: 767px)\n{\n.wpcf7 input[type=\"email\"]\n{\nfont-size: 14px;\n}\n}\n.check-box{\nheight:fit-content;\nwidth:fit-content;\n}\n\n#privacy_check label {\ndisplay: flex;\nalign-items: center;\n}\n\n#privacy_check label input {\n width: 20px;\n height: 20px;\nmargin: 0 10px 0 -10px;\n}\n<\/style><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The article helps the reader to better understand legal profiles which should be taken into account while drafting a Game Design Document. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[37],"class_list":["post-2551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ges","tag-gaming"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2551"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5741,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551\/revisions\/5741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pixlex.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}