ABSTRACT
Working with an attorney to better understand legal issues in regard to intellectual property (IP), contracts, and licenses is strongly encouraged. Ideas and creative expression are protected by law in the form of IP rights in the same way that tangible property can be bought or sold. However, because IP is not tangible, it must be expressed in a way that can be defined and thus protected. Legally valid types of IP include copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents. A patent prevents others from making, using, or selling an invention for a fixed period of time. Software patents include operating systems, compilers, graphics systems, and file systems. The End User License Agreement (EULA) grants the end user a license to use the game software. The EULA also gives the company more flexibility in terms of how it controls and distributes the game, and limits the company’s liability with the end user.
