Copyright infringement is the use of works protected by copyright without permission where such permission is required, thereby violating certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder.
Definition and Exclusive Rights
Copyright infringement occurs when a work protected by copyright is used without permission in contexts that require such permission. This violates the exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, which typically include the right to reproduce, distribute, display or perform the protected work, as well as the right to produce derivative works.
Who Holds the Copyright
The copyright holder is usually the creator of the work, though it may also be a publisher or other business to whom the copyright has been assigned. These holders routinely invoke legal and technological measures to prevent and penalize infringement.
Relevance to Gaming
Within gaming, game mechanics, engines, platforms and esports, this concept applies to protected assets such as source code, artwork, music, narrative text, character designs and engine software. Unauthorized copying or distribution of these elements—such as pirating a game engine or redistributing unlicensed in-game art—infringes the exclusive rights of the holder.
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