Author Topic: Legal issues  (Read 551 times)

Offline pixlepix

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Legal issues
« on: September 20, 2010, 08:13:48 PM »
I would like to know, what are the legal issues of running a game.

Offline JGadrow

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Re: Legal issues
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2010, 07:59:44 AM »
Anytime you're pondering issues of legality, the best solution is to call and speak to an attorney, lawyer, barrister, whatever-your-country-calls-them. Most will at least give you a cost estimate for them to draw up legal verbage for you. Failing that, take a look around at other games. Might not cover you 100% but some protection (or even the implication of protection) is better than none.
Idiocy - Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.


Offline Chris

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Re: Legal issues
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2010, 09:03:28 AM »
Quote
take a look around at other games
I would like to note that quite a few games copied my self-invented legal notice (and then other copied it from them and... now it is spread over the net - probably because my "legal notice" is one of the few that could be understood by humans). So be careful. Because everyone uses it, it does not mean it must be any good :D

- do not worry too much, if you are rich they will sue you, if you are poor they won't
- take a look at legislation of *your* country and write ToS accordingly (like in USA put more emphasis on minor accessing the game or people suing you for no protection against their stupidity "if you look at the screen your eyesight might get worse and don't try to put your cat inside USB slot", in Poland put more weight on collection of personal data, in France you would want some no racism/minorities statements, etc). I also added "you are obligued to follow regulations of your country", to avoid people complaining something was not included (there is no way I would know all regulations of all 150-something countries, not to mention include it).
- in case of being sued, the trial will take place in the regional court nearest the company's (you) location and the ToS should be written to maximize winning chance on your local ground (I do love when people send me some quotes of laws issued by US Congress "It does not apply to me, dude, the game is under the Polish senate laws and EU laws" :D)

Offline JGadrow

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Re: Legal issues
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2010, 09:27:32 AM »
Agreed. As I said, the best answer is to go to an attorney. They are the legal experts and have the best answers for you. But, again, even the implication that you have legal protection can sometimes dissuade others from taking legal action. Whether or not the protection is real.

But, seriously, call an attorney. You'll only lost the cost of a phone call (and most of those are free all over the world now as far as I know!) and the attorney will, at the very least, let you know how much it would cost you to be as protected as you can be.
Idiocy - Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.


 


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