Due to the growing interest of video games and increasing popularity of its storyline and heroes, the publishers and right owners are seeking for new ways of commercializing such game elements through licensing. The purpose of this study was to identify IP protection instruments and licensing strategies used in the video game industry, and in particular, with relation to video game elements such as storyline and characters. This study discussed various types of IP applicable to the video games as such, its function and exemplary elements of games related to each type of IP.

Besides of that, this thesis discussed ways and examples for monetizing video game elements through inbound and outbound licensing strategies, as well as legal issues and caveats which may occur during licensing arrangements of video games elements, in particular the IP role in primary and secondary license, and also publisher, developer, end-user license agreements. This study also tackled typical infringements occuring in the industry and ownership issues with relation to elements created during work made for hire as well as content generated by players.

This research project is conducted by MIPLM graduate Timofey Rubchenko and supervised by Prof. Dr. Alexander Wurzer and Dr. Thibaud Lelong both CEIPI.

Timofey has a background in the telecommunication industry and an Engineering degree in Telecommunications. He had worked more than 5 years in both mobile operator business and user terminals business. He is currently working as IPR Manager in Thales Digital Identity and Security, leader in digital security, and managing SEP portfolio of IoT Division as well as providing support on SEP-related activities to group companies of Thales. In 2022, Timofey graduated in the Master of Intellectual Property Law and Management at CEIPI, University of Strasbourg.

Here is a description of the research project: