British Copyright Law
Board Games
Two ways of obtaining protection, provided they are original works. These are not mutually exclusive; a game may be covered in both ways at the same time.
COPYRIGHT
- Under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, protection will be available not for the idea of the game as such but for the way in which the idea is expressed - i.e. the explanation of the rules and the design of the board and any novel counters
- No formalities are required to establish the copyright; it comes into existence automatically with the creation of the rules of the game and the design of the board.
- There is no copyright registration system in this country or in most other countries, but it is advisable to mark both the rules and the board with the copyright symbol ©, the name of the copyright owner and the year in which the game came into existence.
- It is also important to mark the game in this way if there is any intention to market it in those countries (including the United States of America) where a copyright registration system does exist.
- Copyright only protects the owner against direct copying - i.e. if someone else comes along later with the same idea, having thought it up themselves, there is no infringement of the earlier copyright.
- Similarly, if someone else were to take the idea and produce a different game based on it, there would again be no infringement of copyright.
- Depositing a copy of the rules and of the drawing of the board with a responsible person, such as a solicitor or bank manager, against a dated receipt, may provide independent evidence of the date the work was created, which can be useful in the event of any later dispute about the ownership of the copyright.
- The same end may be achieved by the copyright owner sending a copy of the work to himself by registered post; in this case, it is important that the envelope should be kept unopened on receipt.
DESIGN REGISTRATION
- It may be possible to register the design of the game under the procedure established by the Registered Designs Act 1949. The Designs Registry is operated by the Intellectual Property Office. More information can be obtained at www.ipo.gov.uk or e-mail information@ipo.gov.uk.
- Design registration is quite separate from copyright and gives more protection, since once a game is registered it is protected against anyone else coming up with the same idea afterwards, even if they had no knowledge of the game already registered.
- On the other hand, it does require the completion of registration formalities and the payment of fees. It is vital that an application for registration should be put in hand before the design of the game is made public in any way.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
OUGD603 Brief 05: D&AD New Blood Awards 2018 (Hasbro)
Brief 04: D&AD New Blood Awards 2018:
Hasbro Brief
Team
Graphic Designers Level 6
- Emma Harwood
- Courtney Flannagan
- Kathryn Brown
Considerations
- 2 minutes to learn, 30 minutes to play
- Fun, fast, party game
- Innovation, fresh ideas
- Distinct end product or unexpected twist
- Keep it simple
- Not so controversial
- Packaging
- Advertising
- Explore digital extentions
- Copywriting
- Branding
- Launch concept
Deliverables
- Video presentation showcasing idea (gameplay and visuals) - Ad for the game
- How-to-play video
- Playable prototype
- Document research and development
- Clear classic game choice - reinvented - why
31st Jan - First Meeting
Today we have gone over the brief to make sure that everybody understands what we have to do. We have decided to go away and do some initial research, meet back up tomorrow and discuss through what we have found. Initial chats talked about the game Balderdash as this was a game the both me and Kathryn liked, and the possibility of taking that idea.
Hasbro Brief
The aim of this brief is to find an existing game idea and reinvent it to make games more relevant to a modern 16 - 24 market. I've highlighted the most important and relevant information that we will need to answer the brief.
Graphic Designers Level 6
- Emma Harwood
- Courtney Flannagan
- Kathryn Brown
Considerations
- 2 minutes to learn, 30 minutes to play
- Fun, fast, party game
- Innovation, fresh ideas
- Distinct end product or unexpected twist
- Keep it simple
- Not so controversial
- Packaging
- Advertising
- Explore digital extentions
- Copywriting
- Branding
- Launch concept
Deliverables
- Video presentation showcasing idea (gameplay and visuals) - Ad for the game
- How-to-play video
- Playable prototype
- Document research and development
- Clear classic game choice - reinvented - why
31st Jan - First Meeting
Today we have gone over the brief to make sure that everybody understands what we have to do. We have decided to go away and do some initial research, meet back up tomorrow and discuss through what we have found. Initial chats talked about the game Balderdash as this was a game the both me and Kathryn liked, and the possibility of taking that idea.
Friday, January 26, 2018
OUGD603 Brief 03: Book Summary
Book Summary:
To understand the book better reading the plot summary will give me an overview of what happens within the book. From this I will be able to pick out certain themes and I will be able to use this to base my ideas from.
- Animals assemble in a barn to hear Old Major (a pig), describe a dream he had about a world where animals lived free.
- Old Major dies
- The animals are inspired by his philosophy of Animalism - plot a rebellion against Jones (farmer).
- Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon prove important figures and planners.
- Jones forgets to feed the animals - revolution - Jones and his men are chased off the farm.
- 7 Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall.
- Manor Farm renamed Animal Farm.
- Initial success - animals complete the harvest and meet every Sunday to debate farm policy.
- The pigs become supervisors because of their intelligence.
- Napoleon proves to be a power-hungry leader - steals the cow's milk and a number of apples to feed him and the other pigs.
- Squealer (pig) can persuade the other animals that the pigs are always moral and correct in their decisions.
- Jones and his men return and attempt to retake the farm.
- Snowballs tactics win the battle - The Battle of the Cowshed.
- Mollie a vain horse concerned only with ribbons and sugar is lured off the farm by another human.
- Snowball draws plans for a windmill - electricity - give the animals more leisure time.
- Napoleon opposes plans on the grounds that it will allow for less time producing food.
- On the Sunday that the pigs offer the windmill to the animals for a vote, Napoleon summons a pack of ferocious dogs, who chase Snowball off the farm forever.
- Napoleon announces that there will be no more debates, also saying the windmill will be built and that it was his idea.
- Next year is spent building the windmill.
- Boxer an incredibly strong horse proves to be the most valuable.
- Jones forsakes the farm and moves to another part of the county.
- Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat who he blames all of the animals hardships on.
- Napoleon hires a solicitor and beings trading with neighbouring farms.
- A storm topples the windmill - Napoleon blames Snowball and orders the animals to rebuild it.
- Napoleons lust for power increases - totalitarian dictator - forcing 'confessions' from innocent animals and having them killed by the dogs in front of the entire farm.
- All the pigs move into Jones' house and sleep in the beds (Squealer excuses with his brand of twisted logic).
- The animals receive less and less food, while the pigs grow fatter.
- The windmill is complete in August.
- Napoleon sells a pile of timber to Jones
- Frederick a neighbouring farmer pays for it with forged bank notes.
- Frederick and his men attack the farm and explode the windmill but are eventually defeated.
- More commandments are broken by the pigs - the language is revised.
- Boxer offers strength to build the new windmill - he collapses - Napoleon sells him to a knacker (glue-boiler).
- Squealer tells the animals that Boxer was taken to the vet and died a peaceful death in hospital - the animals believe this.
- Years pass, Animal Farm expands it's boundaries - buying more land.
- Life for all the animals (except the pigs) is harsh.
- The pigs begin walking on their hind legs and take many other qualities of their former human oppressors.
- 7 Commandments reduced to a single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
- Pilkington shares a drink with the pigs in Jones' house.
- Napoleon changed the name of the farm back to Manor Farm and quarrels with Pilkington during a card game, where they both try to play the ace of spades.
- The other animals watch the scene from outside the window, they cannot tell the pigs from the humans.
Learning about the book has allowed me to pick out some important attributes which could be developed into a visual idea:
- Pigs
- Barn (plot)
- Philosophy of Animalism
- 7 Commandments
- Rename of farm
- Windmill
- Dictator (totalitarian)
- Pigs grow fatter
- Pigs acting like humans - sleeping in beds and walking on hind legs.
- Single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
To understand the book better reading the plot summary will give me an overview of what happens within the book. From this I will be able to pick out certain themes and I will be able to use this to base my ideas from.
- Animals assemble in a barn to hear Old Major (a pig), describe a dream he had about a world where animals lived free.
- Old Major dies
- The animals are inspired by his philosophy of Animalism - plot a rebellion against Jones (farmer).
- Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon prove important figures and planners.
- Jones forgets to feed the animals - revolution - Jones and his men are chased off the farm.
- 7 Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall.
- Manor Farm renamed Animal Farm.
- Initial success - animals complete the harvest and meet every Sunday to debate farm policy.
- The pigs become supervisors because of their intelligence.
- Napoleon proves to be a power-hungry leader - steals the cow's milk and a number of apples to feed him and the other pigs.
- Squealer (pig) can persuade the other animals that the pigs are always moral and correct in their decisions.
- Jones and his men return and attempt to retake the farm.
- Snowballs tactics win the battle - The Battle of the Cowshed.
- Mollie a vain horse concerned only with ribbons and sugar is lured off the farm by another human.
- Snowball draws plans for a windmill - electricity - give the animals more leisure time.
- Napoleon opposes plans on the grounds that it will allow for less time producing food.
- On the Sunday that the pigs offer the windmill to the animals for a vote, Napoleon summons a pack of ferocious dogs, who chase Snowball off the farm forever.
- Napoleon announces that there will be no more debates, also saying the windmill will be built and that it was his idea.
- Next year is spent building the windmill.
- Boxer an incredibly strong horse proves to be the most valuable.
- Jones forsakes the farm and moves to another part of the county.
- Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat who he blames all of the animals hardships on.
- Napoleon hires a solicitor and beings trading with neighbouring farms.
- A storm topples the windmill - Napoleon blames Snowball and orders the animals to rebuild it.
- Napoleons lust for power increases - totalitarian dictator - forcing 'confessions' from innocent animals and having them killed by the dogs in front of the entire farm.
- All the pigs move into Jones' house and sleep in the beds (Squealer excuses with his brand of twisted logic).
- The animals receive less and less food, while the pigs grow fatter.
- The windmill is complete in August.
- Napoleon sells a pile of timber to Jones
- Frederick a neighbouring farmer pays for it with forged bank notes.
- Frederick and his men attack the farm and explode the windmill but are eventually defeated.
- More commandments are broken by the pigs - the language is revised.
- Boxer offers strength to build the new windmill - he collapses - Napoleon sells him to a knacker (glue-boiler).
- Squealer tells the animals that Boxer was taken to the vet and died a peaceful death in hospital - the animals believe this.
- Years pass, Animal Farm expands it's boundaries - buying more land.
- Life for all the animals (except the pigs) is harsh.
- The pigs begin walking on their hind legs and take many other qualities of their former human oppressors.
- 7 Commandments reduced to a single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
- Pilkington shares a drink with the pigs in Jones' house.
- Napoleon changed the name of the farm back to Manor Farm and quarrels with Pilkington during a card game, where they both try to play the ace of spades.
- The other animals watch the scene from outside the window, they cannot tell the pigs from the humans.
Learning about the book has allowed me to pick out some important attributes which could be developed into a visual idea:
- Pigs
- Barn (plot)
- Philosophy of Animalism
- 7 Commandments
- Rename of farm
- Windmill
- Dictator (totalitarian)
- Pigs grow fatter
- Pigs acting like humans - sleeping in beds and walking on hind legs.
- Single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
OUGD603 Brief 03: Penguin Random House Student Design Award 2018
Penguin Random House Student Design Award 2018:
Adult Fiction Cover Award
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Orwell's chilling 'fairy story', is a timeless and devastating satire of idealism betrayed by power and corruption.
When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master Mr Jones and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless élite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another.
The Brief:
A cover design which will reflect the book’s status as one of the great modern political allegories of our time, as relevant today as it was when it was first published over 50 years ago. It is rich with ideas, characters, allegory, political and moral philosophy – read it and decide how best to showcase the content of this remarkable novel through the cover design and bring it to a new generation of readers.
The cover design needs to include all the cover copy supplied and be designed to the specified design template – B format, 198mm high x 129mm wide, spine width 8 mm, incorporating the Penguin branding and all additional elements such as the barcode. Refer to the Submissions Details page for full details of the spec and how to submit.
What the judges are looking for...
They are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market. While all elements of the jacket need to work together as a cohesive whole, remember that the front cover must be effective on its own and be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting. It also needs to be able to work on screen for digital retailers such as Amazon.
The winning design will need to:
- Have an imaginative concept and original interpretation of the brief
- Be competently executed with strong use of typography
- Appeal to a contemporary readership
- Show a good understanding of the marketplace
- Have a point of difference from the many other book covers it is competing against
Copyright must be cleared for all images used in your cover design and you must include a credit line on the back cover of your design for any third party images used. For example: ‘Cover photograph by Joe Bloggs’.
The Prizes:
1st Prize - The winner of each category will be invited to spend four weeks in the Penguin Random House Design Studios on a work placement*, working on live briefs. The work placement will be paid at the current London Living Wage rate (subject to any applicable taxation) and the winner will also receive a cash prize of £1,000.
2nd Prize - The winner of the 2nd Prize will receive a £500 cash prize.
3rd Prize - The winner of the 3rd Prize will receive a £250 cash prize.
All the shortlisted entrants will be invited to an award ceremony where the winners will be announced, and at which an exhibition of all the shortlisted designs will be on display.
The Judges:
- John Hamilton – Art Director, Penguin General
- Joanna Prior – Managing Director, Penguin General Books
- Jim Stoddart – Art Director, Penguin Press
Submission Details
Entries must be supplied in the following format:
- PDF
- 300dpi
- CMYK
- 5mm bleed
- Crop marks to be included
- Ideally colour managed to ISO Coated 39 or ISO Uncoated 29 (optional)
- Maximum file size 5 MB
Include the front cover only on the first page of your PDF and a full cover spread (front, spine and back cover) on the second page of your PDF.
Use the design template and cover copy supplied for each category brief.
Important Dates:
Closing date for entries – Tuesday 6 March 2018, 12:00 noon (GMT)
Shortlist announcement – Wednesday 25 April 2018
Closing date for shortlisted student’s final submissions – Thursday 10 May 2018, 12:00 noon (GMT)
Winners announced – Wednesday 20 June 2018
Adult Fiction Cover Award
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Orwell's chilling 'fairy story', is a timeless and devastating satire of idealism betrayed by power and corruption.
When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master Mr Jones and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless élite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another.
The Brief:
A cover design which will reflect the book’s status as one of the great modern political allegories of our time, as relevant today as it was when it was first published over 50 years ago. It is rich with ideas, characters, allegory, political and moral philosophy – read it and decide how best to showcase the content of this remarkable novel through the cover design and bring it to a new generation of readers.
The cover design needs to include all the cover copy supplied and be designed to the specified design template – B format, 198mm high x 129mm wide, spine width 8 mm, incorporating the Penguin branding and all additional elements such as the barcode. Refer to the Submissions Details page for full details of the spec and how to submit.
What the judges are looking for...
They are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market. While all elements of the jacket need to work together as a cohesive whole, remember that the front cover must be effective on its own and be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting. It also needs to be able to work on screen for digital retailers such as Amazon.
The winning design will need to:
- Have an imaginative concept and original interpretation of the brief
- Be competently executed with strong use of typography
- Appeal to a contemporary readership
- Show a good understanding of the marketplace
- Have a point of difference from the many other book covers it is competing against
Copyright must be cleared for all images used in your cover design and you must include a credit line on the back cover of your design for any third party images used. For example: ‘Cover photograph by Joe Bloggs’.
The Prizes:
1st Prize - The winner of each category will be invited to spend four weeks in the Penguin Random House Design Studios on a work placement*, working on live briefs. The work placement will be paid at the current London Living Wage rate (subject to any applicable taxation) and the winner will also receive a cash prize of £1,000.
2nd Prize - The winner of the 2nd Prize will receive a £500 cash prize.
3rd Prize - The winner of the 3rd Prize will receive a £250 cash prize.
All the shortlisted entrants will be invited to an award ceremony where the winners will be announced, and at which an exhibition of all the shortlisted designs will be on display.
The Judges:
- John Hamilton – Art Director, Penguin General
- Joanna Prior – Managing Director, Penguin General Books
- Jim Stoddart – Art Director, Penguin Press
Submission Details
Entries must be supplied in the following format:
- 300dpi
- CMYK
- 5mm bleed
- Crop marks to be included
- Ideally colour managed to ISO Coated 39 or ISO Uncoated 29 (optional)
- Maximum file size 5 MB
Include the front cover only on the first page of your PDF and a full cover spread (front, spine and back cover) on the second page of your PDF.
Use the design template and cover copy supplied for each category brief.
Important Dates:
Closing date for entries – Tuesday 6 March 2018, 12:00 noon (GMT)
Shortlist announcement – Wednesday 25 April 2018
Closing date for shortlisted student’s final submissions – Thursday 10 May 2018, 12:00 noon (GMT)
Winners announced – Wednesday 20 June 2018
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