I have a not-hypothetical #IntellectualProperty question for any #Lawyers or well-informed #IAmNotALawyer types who might be out there.

We have a concert poster from a star-studded benefit many years ago. And it's been signed by many of the musicians who performed at it. Now we are donating it to a non-profit that is collecting an archive of materials from the period.

So I took the poster to the art supply store to get a high-quality scan (my flatbed is only 8.5" x 14") and they balked at first because the poster is copyrighted by default. But then a lot of discussion ensued as to whether the signatures make it a derivative work.

In the end we're going with the plan that they'll scan it but not release the scan to me until we get a letter from the org we're donating it to saying we can make one digital copy for our own personal archives. I may slip in a line about making one print as well.

And I'm probably also going to take it to Kinkos and do a self-service scan because when I push the button I assume the liability.

Leaving aside any debates about copyright itself, I'm wondering if the signatures do in fact turn it into a derivative work.

#News out of #Nintendo's #patent #lawsuit against #PocketPair, alleging the #GameMechanics of #Palworld are too similar to #Pokemon.

We now know the main #patents, all filed in #Japan earlier this year after PalWorld's release...

(Reminder that #IAmNotALawyer)

No. 7493117 involves #collision and #pathfinding, and seems to be mostly related to trainer battles and entering battle by throwing one Pokemon at another. It's not clear to me how this is novel or unique enough for a lawsuit.

No. 7528390 involves player characters mounting creatures and riding them around. As Pokemon is far from the only, first, or even a game with this mechanic for more than a few years, I don't see how they can claim this.

No. 7545191 is the #PokeBall thing, which #PalBalls are very similar to, so much I was surprised they did that at the game's release (#Bugsnax at least used a non-spherical trap), but again, I'm not sure how this is unique or innovative enough for a lawsuit.

#Gaming #GameDev

If "corporations are people", any attempt to ban explicitly TikTok violates the Equal Protection clause.

Frankly, the same goes for tax breaks and incentives. #IAmNotALawyer

I don’t understand how Apple are able to allow developers to sell their apps at different prices within the EU. That sounds like price discrimination to me, which is banned in the EU. Can anyone clarify? #IAmNotALawyer

See here: https://mastodon.social/@stroughtonsmith/109995602506345698