Ok so I work in law have just been reading some posts on us copyright law thought I would lay it out for just the UK.
Things to know about copyright
1. Your can't register copyright (well you don't)
2. Copyright is your exclusive legal rights to print publish etc... your work and authorize other people to use your work.
3. If you create something e.g. book or code you own that copyright
4. The copyright is there automatically when the material becomes a physical entity e.g. put onto paper or a computer (I know that’s not a physical entity but it’s the same principle)
5. You can’t copyright an idea only the embodiment of the idea e.g. the code you have done is copyright however if someone went Onto your game sees it and makes one without using your code that is there copyright.
6. Copyright gives you a say over how your code is used e.g. who uses it
6. You can sell/five copyrights away or you can give someone a license to use it
7. Copyright terms range from 50 - 70 years after the death of the creator
8. If you do some thing that is copyright well you make it keep records if its code print screen every now and then or even use a key logger well you make it that shows everything you click and type.
9. If you employ someone to come up with something or code something e.g. a new game you will own that copy right unless stated other wise (keep record anyway)
10. If you hire someone to do any jobs e.g. secure your game odds are that they will own that copyright always make clear before you do a job who will own rights this way there’s no mistakes always keep records.
Word to the wise
Putting a copyright at the top of your code e.g.
///made by dominion
///do not sell
///copyright 2009
Is fine however if that’s all you have then its not much not much and may not stand in when someone changes it without a better log always make sure you can show people that you made it always have logs.
Sites to learn more...
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/uk_law_summaryhttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/UKpga_19880048_en_1.htm <<<the full act
http://tinyurl.com/kveaw4 <<< sorry I was a little bored when posting
