Behaviours and outcomes in unauthorised fan-made video game production

Erickson, K. , Kretschmer, M. , Mavridou, O. and White, G. (2014) Behaviours and outcomes in unauthorised fan-made video game production. In: 9th Annual Conference of the European Policy for Intellectual Property (EPIP) Association, Brussels, Belgium, 4-5 Sep 2014,

Abstract

Video game source code attracts copyright protection as a literary work, which lasts in the UK for 70 years from the death of the author, or the last surviving author in the case of a joint work. However, due to corporate abandonment or technical obsolescence, many original video games remain unavailable in the marketplace. In response, some consumers have become 'prod-users', creating unauthorised reproductions of original video games using new software code. This paper analyses a dataset of 300 fangame projects to identify common features of production and distribution by fangame creators, as well as legal outcomes in cases where the original rightsholder has become aware of the unauthorised use. Multiple case study analysis provides a typology of fangame production and points the way to future empirical work to interrogate the likelihood of rightsholder objection under specific conditions such as length of market absence and potential for commercialisation.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Keywords: Fangames, produsage, fandom, copyright, user-led innovation.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Erickson, Professor Kristofer and Kretschmer, Professor Martin
• Authors: Erickson, K., Kretschmer, M., Mavridou, O., and White, G.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Research Group: CREATe

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
62124	1	The Value of Public Domain Works: Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange to Develop Policies for the Commercial Use of Public Domain Works	Martin Kretschmer	Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)	ES/K008137/1	SCHOOL OF LAW