Does Unity have ownership over my game?

Does Unity have Ownership over my Game?

As a game developer, you may be wondering if Unity, the popular game engine, has ownership over your game. This is a common question among game developers and it’s important to understand the answer so that you can protect your intellectual property and make informed decisions about your game development process.

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to the legal rights that creators have over their work, including artistic works, inventions, symbols, designs, names, and images. In the context of game development, IP includes the code, assets, and other elements that make up your game.

Does Unity Own my Game?

When you create a game using Unity, you retain ownership over your IP. This means that you own the code, assets, and other elements of your game. However, when you publish your game on the Unity App Store, you are subject to the terms and conditions of the store’s policies.

These policies require developers to grant Unity permission to distribute and sell their games, but they also allow developers to retain ownership of their IP.

What are the Risks of Giving Unity Ownership over my Game?

While you retain ownership of your IP when using Unity, there are some risks associated with giving Unity permission to distribute and sell your game. These risks include:

• Loss of control over your game’s distribution and sales: When you publish your game on the Unity App Store, Unity becomes the primary distributor of your game. This means that you may have limited control over how your game is distributed and sold.
• Dependence on Unity: If your game relies heavily on Unity’s features or services, you may be at risk if Unity decides to discontinue support for those features or services.
• Lack of monetization options: While you retain ownership of your IP, you are subject to the terms and conditions of the Unity App Store’s policies. This means that you may not have access to all monetization options available for your game.

What Can I Do to Protect my Game’s IP?

To protect your game’s IP, you can take several steps, including:

1. Registering your game’s trademark: This will give you legal protection for the name and logo of your game.
2. Protecting your code and assets: You should take steps to protect the code and assets of your game from being copied or stolen by others. This can include using encryption, watermarking, and other security measures.
3. Reviewing Unity’s policies: Before publishing your game on the Unity App Store, you should review Unity’s policies to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions under which your game will be distributed and sold.

Summary

In conclusion, while Unity does not own your game when you create it using their engine, there are risks associated with giving Unity permission to distribute and sell your game. To protect your game’s IP, you should take steps to register your trademark, protect your code and assets, and review Unity’s policies before publishing your game on the Unity App Store.