Video game law firm Deviant Legal has published a free resource that explains the ins and outs of video game publishing agreements.
Game Developer's Guide to Publishing Agreements published on the Deviant Legal website and is designed to help developers understand all the different clauses that may be present in a publishing contract.
“The reason we are releasing this free resource is because we want to democratize access to legal knowledge for the gaming industry,” said Deviant Legal founder Rene Otto. in a post on LinkedIn.
“Personally, I find it annoying that so much knowledge is only available to people who have the financial resources to attend events or hire a lawyer. Modern public resources often require you to disclose your personal information or provide only partial information.”
The Deviant Legal Guide is divided into 14 sections, covering topics such as auditing, royalties, future games, marketing, and legal terms.
Each section is then broken down into subsections. For example, the Audit Clause section, which details a developer's right to double-check royalty calculations, goes into detail about what an audit clause is, why it's important, and how it can be implemented in a contract. It also details how a developer can review and negotiate audit provisions in its contracts.
In the Future Games and Exclusivity section, Otto and his team explain what clauses and terminology may appear in a contract, as well as how to approach contract details related to intellectual property rights.
“Some lawyers have asked me if I’m afraid to give this resource away because we’re giving away ‘too much information,’” Otto said on LinkedIn.
“That's not true because we know we add value to any publishing deal negotiations we engage in. We use our knowledge, experience and skills to determine the best course of action based on the needs of the developer who works with us.”
Deviant Legal will continue to update and expand the guide with new sections.
