Scotland’s vibrant video games industry is on the cusp of another blockbuster hit - but creators need to better protect their ideas to fully reap the rewards.
That’s the view of one of the mentors on a trailblazing programme credited with helping to unlock worldwide success for designers.
Alastair Smith, a Director in our Corporate and Commercial team who is an experienced technology lawyer, is sharing legal insight as it affects the industry with the contending teams taking part in Abertay University’s Dare Academy this summer.
And, as the game creation sector - which has Dundee at its heart - continues to grow across Scotland, he believes awareness about the importance of rights of creators needs to be at the forefront of their minds.
He said: “It’s clear from the talent and brilliant game concepts we have seen at Dare Academy that the next big release or idea is just around the corner. Everyone wants to see that. But, what no-one wants to see, is the creator losing out because they did not realise the steps they need to take in order to protect their rights.
“As success inspires more people to get involved in the gaming industry, the greater the awareness needs to be among creators about the legal issues to consider. They operate in a highly competitive industry where steps need to be taken to ensure no-one else reaps the financial rewards for their talent and creativity.
“The greatest game hits combine great story-telling and the latest technology with business acumen - including knowing your legal rights and responsibilities. It’s important that creators understand the complexities of copyright, employment issues and so much more.”
Dare Academy sees six talented teams of undergraduate students spend the summer developing games with the support of academics and industry mentors, with sponsors including Lindsays.
It is designed to replicate a real-world gaming industry environment, challenging students to work together across different disciplines to produce creatively, and technically, strong game prototypes.
Previous winners have gone on to enjoy significant commercial success.
Dundee’s game creation hub is the birthplace of blockbuster games including Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, with a strong collection of studios based in the city.
It is a sector which supporters say is only likely to grow across Scotland, particularly in Dundee which will soon become home to an esports arena.
Alastair, who has mentored Dare Academy students for a number of years, added: “When your focus is on creativity, it can be easy to take your eye off the ball when it comes to the likes of intellectual property (IP) - from those first drawings to characters, sounds and scripts.
“Game creators are also wise not to lose sight of the fact that different parts of the jigsaw often have different owners - each of whom could be entitled to a stake in a game creator’s success depending on legal relations. This is why it is vital to understand these aspects.
“Identifying who owns any IP - and how that is rewarded - is all about avoiding dispute and ensuring every aspect of a game is legally secured.”
The Dare Academy completed its hot housing stage last month.
Alastair Smith is a Director in our Corporate and Commercial team.
Published 19 August 2024.
