How do you safeguard game design assets from unauthorized use?

1 Use contracts and agreements

One of the most important steps to safeguard your game design assets is to use clear and enforceable contracts and agreements with anyone who is involved in your game development process, such as co-designers, programmers, artists, composers, testers, publishers, or distributors. These contracts and agreements should specify the ownership, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of each party regarding the game design assets, as well as the terms and conditions of their use, modification, or transfer. You should also include clauses that protect your intellectual property, confidentiality, and non-disclosure of your game design assets.

2 Register your copyrights

Another essential step to safeguard your game design assets is to register your copyrights with the appropriate authorities in your country or region. Copyrights are legal rights that grant you the exclusive control over the reproduction, distribution, adaptation, and display of your original game design assets. By registering your copyrights, you can prove your ownership and authorship of your game design assets, as well as deter or pursue potential infringers or violators.

3 Use encryption and watermarking

A third useful step to safeguard your game design assets is to use encryption and watermarking techniques to secure and identify your game design assets. Encryption is a process of transforming your game design assets into a code that can only be accessed or decrypted by authorized parties with a key or a password. Watermarking is a process of embedding a visible or invisible mark or logo on your game design assets that indicates your ownership or source. Both encryption and watermarking can help you prevent or trace unauthorized use, copying, or theft of your game design assets.

4 Monitor and enforce your rights

A fourth important step to safeguard your game design assets is to monitor and enforce your rights over your game design assets. You should regularly check the market and the internet for any possible unauthorized use, copying, or theft of your game design assets by others. You should also take action to stop or remove any infringing or violating activities or products, such as sending cease and desist letters, filing complaints, or initiating lawsuits. You should also seek legal advice or assistance from experts or organizations that specialize in game design asset protection.

5 Educate yourself and others

A fifth helpful step to safeguard your game design assets is to educate yourself and others about the value and importance of game design asset protection. You should learn and follow the laws and regulations that apply to your game design assets in your country or region, as well as the ethical and professional standards that govern your game design industry. You should also inform and educate others who are involved in your game development process or who are interested in your game design assets about your rights and expectations regarding your game design assets.

6 Keep backups and records

A sixth and final step to safeguard your game design assets is to keep backups and records of your game design assets. You should always have copies or backups of your game design assets in different locations, such as external hard drives, cloud storage, or online platforms. You should also keep records or documentation of your game design assets, such as sketches, drafts, notes, invoices, receipts, or contracts. These backups and records can help you preserve, restore, or prove your game design assets in case of loss, damage, or dispute.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?