Protecting ideas?

[Wannabe writer]

Could I bother all in sundry to place their thoughts and suggestions on how to protect ones Intellectual Property whilst still offering a free game? I am rather interested in doing this as I would like to offer a game I am currently developing as a free electronic format but a costed hard copy format. My main concern is I am well aware of how well trafficked role-playing games can be in terms of internet piracy this poses me little concern as I am giving mine away electronically, what I fear is someone taking my idea and running with it thereby denying that I was the first to come up with and develop said idea.

[Onix]

My advice is. . .



Ideas are cheap. The effort to put out a solid game is the real commodity. If anything, you want people to "steal" your ideas because people tend to seek out the source. If they like what your thief did, they'll probably like what you did.

Most writers are bursting with ideas. They come easily. They want to put out their own ideas. It would be a very strange "designer" that had the drive and wherewithal to produce a game but not the ideas of their own to implement.

If that doesn't convince you, please understand that I was afraid of exactly the same thing back in the year 2000. It was a big mistake. I should have been sharing my ideas and giving them away freely. It isn't the book thats the commodity. It's the fan base you build. You can produce the greatest game ever, but if you don't build a fan base, no one will know or care. By giving away a game, your goal is to get people to play, to build a fan base. If someone builds on your ideas, they're likely a fan of yours. You make them an even bigger fan by saying "Here, you can use this idea, go ahead."

This is the whole concept behind creative commons. Allowing derivatives encourages people to use your stuff and become your fan.

[Rob Lang]

I completely agree with Onix!

I like his comment about the fan base, that's extremely important.

[catty_big]