🔒 Locked

Gaming engine rights...

Started by WinMain Jan 23, 2004 at 1:33 PM 4 replies 300+ views

Original Post

Jan 23, 2004 at 1:33 PM

Hello, I have a question related to the gaming industry. I have been programming a game engine for a long time. A new company at my country ( where there are no gaming companies ) are interested in producing games. They asked for C/C++ programmers then I went for the interview. I took samples and demos to impress them. I will work at the company as a game developer. Now we want to make a deal. the games will use my engine. I will of course still have to develop it a bit more to be used with the rest of the group. We''ve agreed that using the engine will give me some part of the revenue we gain from the games we sell. Now what are the legal issues I should be looking for to protect my rights, and their rights as well. Another thing, I am working at the company, should I ask them (the company) to sign a contract for using the engine? not forgetting that I shall edit the engine''s code for our needs. And another question, and how much shall I ask for as in percent of the revenue. My sister is a lawyer, I will of course contact her. but first I thought I''d ask ppl in the field of programming, because I have to spend a couple of hours explaning what a game engine is before I can tell her the rest of the story ^^ Thanks in advanced.

dede

Jan 23, 2004 at 2:11 PM

I am not a lawyer.

If you are going to keep your engine.
- Sign a contract. If you don't sign a contract, then the company owns the engine. They can prove you gave it to them, and they made improvements. You won't be able to prove if you gave them exclusive rights or not.

- Find out your coding rights. See if you're allowed to code off hours. If you have already signed away this right, does it really matter what happens to your engine?

- Keep a coding journal. If your company decides down the road that you were stealing their engine improvements for your own engine, you have to be able to prove you coded off hours. So keep a log of what you did and when you did it.

- Don't trust anyone in a suit to do the right thing(tm). The people currently there might not be the same people there in 2 years. Nor will they remember the exact agreement.

[edited by - dede on January 23, 2004 3:17:14 PM]

Conner McCloud

Jan 23, 2004 at 2:21 PM

quote:
Original post by WinMain
My sister is a lawyer, I will of course contact her. but first I thought I''d ask ppl in the field of programming, because I have to spend a couple of hours explaning what a game engine is before I can tell her the rest of the story ^^

Don''t take your sister''s word for anything...ask her for a reference to a lawyer with experience in this sort of thing. It''ll cost you more, but unless your sister specializes in contract law, it''ll probably be worth the money.

CM

Dreddnafious Maelstrom

Jan 23, 2004 at 2:21 PM

liscense your engine, as is to them. set the terms of use just as you might for someone you did not know. be prepared to either update your engine on your own personal time, or be prepared to update your engine during work hours, with the understanding that your employer will own the code you generate.(in other words, to complete your engine personally, you may well have to re-write code that the company owns, that you authored, to avoid any claim they may try to exert in the future.

Dredd
________________________________________

"To die with your sword still in its sheath is most regrettable" -- Miyomoto Musashi

VenDrake

Jan 23, 2004 at 2:32 PM

Get a Lawyer.

Get a good Lawyer.

Get a good Lawyer who is experienced in this field.

When someone gives you a piece of paper, remember, ONLY that lawyer can tell you the FULL implications of the agreement. Everyone else will gloss-over or misinterpret things that may be important later.

I''m not kidding. You''ll sign you rights away when you think you''re protecting them.

-----------
VenDrake

"When you and a friend are being chased by a King Cheata, you have but one chance, trip your friend."

WinMain

Jan 23, 2004 at 5:59 PM

thanks for all the replies...
a friend suggested that I bind the engine into a library, and sign a contract so they''d use it for a cash money or for a percent of the revenue, and work their as if I don''t know what the engine is.

This way, I''ll have to code the engine at home, and they''ll of course own only the code I write at office...

Sounds right for you guys??

Topic Locked

This topic has been locked by a moderator. New replies are not allowed.