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>Video game copyright cases turn on whether the clone copied “functional” elements (tolerated) or “creative” elements (verboten). Yeah, this quote from the con
by deciplex 12y ago
>Video game copyright cases turn on whether the clone copied “functional” elements (tolerated) or “creative” elements (verboten).
Yeah, this quote from the conclusion is not at all what I took from it.
I strongly suspect that, for the most part, the judges here decide based on 'gut feeling' whether a title infringes or not, and then look for justification after the fact.
It also probably matters how litigious the plaintiff is: The Tetris Company is legendary in that regard. I mean, a 10x20 game board is infringing? And how else are you going to arrange four blocks, other than what is already done in Tetris?
I guess if copyright didn't extend effectively forever I would have less of a problem with it, but the idea that a single legal entity is going to own all these ideas when my grandchildren are having children, strikes me as - to put it lightly - very bad for the notion of cultural progress.
- teachingaway 12y ago> judges here decide based on 'gut feeling' whether a title infringes or not, and then look for justification after the fact. I think that's a fair assessment of how a lot of court cases are decided, especially where the law involves an imprecise weighing and balancing of several competing factors.
- saraid216 12y ago> And how else are you going to arrange four blocks, other than what is already done in Tetris? Heh. Reading that actually gave me idea. Like this: X X X X Okay, someone else come up with a falling-block game where the blocks have spaces in between them. :P
- loosescrews 12y agoIf I do will you sue me?
- tempodox 12y agoWait, did you just infringe a creative element of Tetris?
- deciplex 12y agoAs long as the game board is not 10x20 I think he'll be fine :-)