Management and Protection of Creative Works in a Virtual Environment

Abstract

The present disclosure provides various novel concepts to a video game environment. The disclosure describes video game environments that include a method and system for protecting intellectual property including creative, intellectual, or artistic works including, but not limited to, poems, plays, and other literary works, movies, choreographic works, musical compositions, audio recordings, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, software, radio and television broadcasts and industrial designs created by players and characters for use in the virtual environment.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a first video game environment;   receiving a creative work from a first player character interacting in the first game environment;   obtaining a determination of registerability for the creative work; and   if the creative work is registerable, registering the creative work in a virtual copyright office.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a determination of registerability comprises comparing the creative work to other registered creative works in the virtual environment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a determination of registerability comprises comparing the creative work to other creative works in the real world. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the comparison is performed by an Examiner. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the comparison is performed by a panel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the comparison is made by an algorithm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all creative works are registered upon creation. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a first video game environment;   receiving a creative work from a first player character interacting in the first game environment;   acquiring rights to the creative work from a first player character;   adding the creative work to a database of creative works created by other characters.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the database of creative works may be accessed by other characters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein player characters must subscribe to the database in order access creative works by other player characters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subscription can provide access to part of the database. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subscription can provide access to the entire database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subscription provides the ability to download copies of the creative works. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 providing a first video game environment;   receiving a creative work from a first player character;   making the rights to the creative work available to a second player character.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising receiving a request to purchase a creative work from a second player character;
 receiving payment for the creative work from the second player character; and   transferring ownership in the creative work to the second player character.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising receiving a request to license a creative work from a second player character;
 negotiating licensing terms;   receiving payment for the license from the second player character;   and authorizing the second player character to perform or use the creative work.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the licensing terms depend on the venue for the use of the creative work. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rights to the creative work are made available on an exchange. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the exchange may be between different virtual environments. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the different virtual environments may be in different games.