Are game titles copyrighted?

Can you copyright a game? Yes, you can copyright the artistic aspects of a game such as a game board, game packaging, and playing cards. Names of games and gameplay are not eligible for copyright protection. Game names are protected by trademarks.
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Are game quotes copyrighted?

Whether it is put in the mouth of a character or is part of the narration makes no significant difference. Note, in a copyright sense a statement does not "belong to a particular universe", rather it belongs to a copyright owner, often the author, or in the case of a video game quite likely thy publisher.
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Are game fonts copyrighted?

Fonts may be protected as long as the font qualifies as computer software or a program (in fact, most fonts are programs or software). Bitmapped fonts are considered computerized representations of a typeface (and are not protected by copyright law)."
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Does copyright apply to games?

Instead, video games are considered protected by copyright in their parts. The computer code or other fixed medium is considered copyrightable, and the game's presentation can be copyrighted as a literary work or dramatic work, while elements like character design, art and sound and music can also be copyrighted.
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Are video game character names copyrighted?

Trademark Protection for Characters

But the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will trademark “any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies … goods or services”[1] — which can include a character mark associated with a video game or other product or service.
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Game Dev 101 Copyright, Patents, Trademarks

Can a game title be copyrighted?

Yes, you can copyright the artistic aspects of a game such as a game board, game packaging, and playing cards. Names of games and gameplay are not eligible for copyright protection. Game names are protected by trademarks.
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Can I trademark my gamer name?

A trademark registration in a gamer-tag and logo provides many unique benefits for its owner. One of these is that the gamer has exclusive rights to the name for the selected categories. This means that no other person may use the same name or a confusingly similar one for the same goods or services.
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What two things you Cannot copyright in a video game?

The Copyright Office factsheet on games explains exactly this: Copyright does not protect the idea for game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it. Nor does copyright protect any idea, system, method, device, or trademark material involved in developing, merchandising, or playing a game.
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Is my game automatically copyrighted?

Although copyright automatically exists as soon as your game is created and the elements are “fixed” (like we talked about above), registering your copyright with the United States Copyright Office is strongly recommended.
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Are game logos copyrighted?

The logos, images, and names associated with games are often protected by intellectual property laws, and using them without permission from the respective owners could lead to legal consequences.
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Is the Doom logo copyrighted?

English: Logo of the video game (series) Doom. Deutsch: Logo des Videospiels/der Videospiel-Reihe Doom. This logo image consists only of simple geometric shapes or text. It does not meet the threshold of originality needed for copyright protection, and is therefore in the public domain.
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Are game pictures copyrighted?

Are gaming screenshots copyrighted? If gaming screenshots contain sufficient originality, yes, they're copyrighted.
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What parts of a game can be copyrighted?

Some parts of a game may be subject to copyright if they contain a sufficient amount of literary or pictorial expression. For example, you may be able to register the text describing the rules of the game or the graphic art appearing on the gameboard or container.
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What quotes can I legally use?

Short phrases, clichés, facts, and quotes from works in the public domain or works of the U.S. government are generally free to use.
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Can a catchphrase be copyrighted?

Those phrases typically become an integral part of that person's “brand,” and contribute to their fame and profitability. But can they be trademarked? The answer is yes – a catchphrase can be trademarked, but only for the protection of its use in connection with a particular product or services.
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Can I use quotes without copyright?

There are circumstances under the fair use doctrine where a quote or a sample may be used without permission. However, in cases of doubt, the Copyright Office recommends that permission be obtained.
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How long does game copyright last?

As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.
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Do games go into public domain?

Copyright protection typically lasts for a certain number of years after the creator's death or after the game was first published. Once the copyright has expired, the game enters the public domain and can be freely used by anyone.
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How to make a game legal?

Once you confirm your ownership of all elements in a mobile game, register your copyright. Without copyright registration, you'll not have a legal basis to pursue damages for infringement should a former worker, independent contractor or competitor copy or develop your game or parts of it without your permission.
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Do I need to copyright my game?

As soon as you publish a work in a fixed, tangible form, you are the copyright owner. You do not technically have to do anything, you are automatically granted copyright ownership (you might want to register your work anyway, and we'll get into why in a bit).
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How much does it cost to copyright a game?

Filing fees: The cost of filing a copyright application with the U.S. Copyright Office varies depending on the type of work being registered and the method of registration. For games, the fee for electronic registration is $65 per work, while the fee for paper registration is $85 per work.
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Do you patent or copyright a game?

In short, the answer is that you almost certainly don't need to do anything other than create, print, manufacture, publish, and distribute your game. There's no legal requirement to get a trademark, a patent or register your copyright.
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Can I use a name from a video game for my business?

Game names/titles are trademark, not copyright. You can use them in any context so long as there's no way anyone could interpret your use of the name as you being associated with the original product.
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Can I still use a name if it is trademarked?

When you use someone's mark without their permission in a way that infringes on or dilutes their mark, then your use is usually unlawful. The trademark owner can normally sue you to stop you from using their mark, and they can collect money damages.
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Can a nickname be copyrighted?

Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases.
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