IP rights relating to game development (a brief guide)

[fatmarrow]

@Unrealop;501686

DMCA takedown is the first step? and if I don’t counter-strike that, am I safe? other than loosing the hard worked game.

Let me explain, Lets say If I do anything wrong (of course unknowingly, as I’m not going to do willingly) and It’s on steam, is not DMCA takedown is the only first legal thing that the claimer can do? in such case Steam is going to shut the game down unless if I file counter-strike, in such case this will be court case if claimer want to carry forward with it, otherwise I’d just loose the hard work game & maybe steam acc without loosing anything else, or even if I don’t counter-strike (The game taken down from store), the claimer still can take any further action in the court?

Also wondering, what steps are possible to take against me? as I’m from India.
Also how would forming a legal firm better safeguard than publishing with the real name.

These concern me most, as I’m middle of making a game, that working hard and I know that I’m not copying ANY GAME but using unreal assets though (what happens, we play games, infects so many, so something may have inspired unknowingly xD)

I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you how big dev studios are most likely to resolve IP infringement issues - a cease-and-desist letter might be a typical first step - and DMCA takedowns are not my specialist subject. Certainly you being in India raises a jurisdictional issue but killing things off in the US and/or Europe will be sufficient to stop your game having mass appeal/reach. But certainly (if you had deep enough pockets) there are ways to challenge allegations of infringement. If you feel you’re uncomfortably close to a AAA game, and there is a lot of money at stake, get some formal legal advice, I would suggest. In the meantime, if any insiders have a particular handle on how IP infringements are usually dealt with within the games industry, feel free to chip in.