The one-million-dollar game idea

Among aspiring game developers, there is still the myth of the one-million dollar idea. To sum up, someone wakes up in a beautiful morning and thinks “hey, I have this idea for a game, I’m gonna write up, copyright, sell it!”. I receive at least two e-mails a week with proposals like that. Some people are more realistic, and offer their work as writers and game designers alongside.

So let me spare them from disappointment (and perhaps a bunch of money with lawyers). The WIPO International Copyright Treaty (1996) states clearly that no idea can be subject of copyright. So does the law in U.S., Canada and a number of countries. On some countries, like Brazil, the law specifically forbids the copyrighting of game rules.

What you can really protect is the expression of ideas – in the game development case, code, art, and sounds. Thus, if you have an absolutely great idea and think you can turn a profit, you must fulfill it – paint it, code it, do it. Do not expect someone will pay you for being a “genius”. You must work a lot – either starting your own company, partnering with other developers or presenting the idea on your present game company. These are the only possible ways.

If you want to start your company of be a partner of a game project, perhaps this guy can get you motivated:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/