Knowing the “Coop-yright” in your Digital Chickens

Copyright in the gaming world extends far beyond books and films. Game developers, designers, artists, writers, and composers can use their copyright to control how their original content, whether code, characters, music, storylines, or artwork, is used, copied, or shared. Whilst copyright empowers creators to decide who can reproduce, modify, or distribute their work, and under what terms, for anyone involved in making games, understanding copyright is also crucial to ensure appropriate crediting, avoid infringement issues, and unlock revenue through licensing, merchandising, and collaboration. Naomi Korn Associates’ CEO Naomi Korn recently chatted with Leo Harvey from UKIE (the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry) exploring the complexities of copyright in the digital realm using “digital chickens” as a jumping off point. Naomi examines questions of ownership—who holds the rights to these virtual creations—and how they qualify for copyright protection. The discussion delves into the legal implications of using or modifying digital chickens without permission and how licensing can regulate their distribution. Together, they look at fan art and derivative works, considering the rights of both original creators and fans, against the backdrop of community building, as well as touching on the intersection of copyright and trademarks, highlighting potential overlaps in intellectual property law. 

You can catch up on the conversation below:

Naomi Korn Associates are excited to  offer UKIE members practical guidance to safeguard their intellectual property whilst  also strengthening their overall business strategy.   UKIE members are entitled to 15% off our comprehensive CPD accredited training courses. For more information, find us in the UKIE Directory of Member Benefits or email our Training Manager at info@naomikorn.com. Please join us on 27 May at 2pm for Copyright as Creators: Vital Knowledge to Control Your Assets, a taster of our ‘Copyright Basics for Creators’ course, as well as giving UKIE Members the opportunity to ask their burning copyright questions. More information and booking can be found here: Copyright as Creators: Vital Knowledge to Control Your Assets Tickets, Tue, May 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite