Learn essential legal foundations for indie game development with lawyer Jacob Vela. Discover how to protect your IP, build strong trademarks, and create bulletproof contracts that prevent costly disputes and save your studio. Picture this: You and your best friends spend years building your dream game together, but once money starts rolling in, everything changes. Who owns what? Who gets paid? What happens if someone wants to leave? In this essential episode, we're joined by Jacob Vela, both a practising lawyer specialising in game development AND an indie developer who just launched Star Rift Saga. We dive deep into the legal basics every developer should know: understanding what you actually own, how to protect your game's name and brand, what makes a strong trademark, and how to work with publishers without giving away your IP.Get In Touch With Jacob:Argo Law: https://argolawyer.com/Star Rift Saga: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/🏆 7 Day Marketing Foundations Challenge: https://freakingcoolindies.com/resources/📬 Newsletter: https://freakingcoolindies.com/newsletter/🎮 CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: The Legal Nightmare Waiting to Happen02:15 Meet Jacob Vela: Lawyer and Game Developer04:30 What is Intellectual Property and Why It Matters08:45 The Three Main Types of IP: Copyright, Trademark, Patents15:20 Common IP Misconceptions That Cost Developers18:40 When to Start Thinking About Legal Protection22:10 Copyright: Automatic Protection vs Registration26:35 Ideas vs Expression: What You Can Actually Protect32:15 Game Mechanics and the Limits of Protection35:50 Trademark Fundamentals: Protecting Your Brand42:30 The Abercrombie Spectrum: Strong vs Weak Trademarks48:15 Trademark Searching and Registration Process52:40 Licensing: Using Others' Work Legally55:20 Contracts: The Foundation of Clear Partnerships1:02:45 Default Ownership Rules and Why They're Dangerous1:08:30 Essential Contract Clauses for Indie Developers1:12:15 Working with Contractors and Work for Hire1:15:40 LLC Formation: Templates vs Custom Solutions1:18:25 Game Recommendations and Where to Find Jacob🎙️ Learn on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2doPqk8Q9IKstjLDdSMn9nApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freaking-cool-indies/id1824774892❤️ CONNECT WITH ME 🕸️ Website: https://freakingcoolindies.com/🐦 Twitter: / https://x.com/F_Cool_Indies🎵 TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@freakingcoolindies💼 LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnone/🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/freakingcoolindies.com
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