Contracts without which a game developer is helpless

What the talk is about

Denys Berehovyi, a lawyer, explains which contracts game developers need at different stages, from a small team to working with publishers. First, record who created what from the start and put it in writing, for example through development agreements or author's agreements between individuals. Without that, a dispute between former partners over rights to the code is hard to untangle. Second, in a publisher deal, pin down the subject, promotion duties on specific markets, how rights are split or licensed, sequel rights, and warranties that the rights are clean. Third, check the governing law and court, payment terms and deadlines, acceptance acts, and the transfer of rights. In the Q&A he covers proprietary and moral rights of an author, and the registration of copyright, trademarks and patents. Useful for indie teams and studios working with outsourcers and publishers.