Are there copyright or trademark protections for game titles and characters?

Yes, there are copyright and trademark protections for game titles and characters in Virginia. Copyright is a form of protection for original works of authorship, and this includes video games. A copyright protects the game itself, while a trademark protects the characters, titles, and symbols associated with it. In Virginia, copyright protection for video games is provided under state and federal law. The Copyright Act of 1976 grants copyright protection for original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium, including video games. The owner of the copyright has exclusive rights to reproduce, publicly perform, distribute, and create derivative works from the copyrighted work. Trademark protection for video game characters, titles, and symbols is provided under state and federal law. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies a source of goods and services. A trademark protects the use of the mark for the products or services that it represents. This may include characters, titles, and logos associated with a video game. Having both a copyright and trademark can help prevent competitors from using the same characters, titles, or symbols in their own games. It also helps protect the creators of the games from having their ideas stolen. In Virginia, it is important to make sure that you register all of your video game copyrights and trademarks with the appropriate office to take advantage of this protection.

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