Build Your Studio, Not Your Game
summary
Advice centers on concrete business actions: form a legal entity, use work for hire or contributor agreements plus NDAs, register copyrights and consider trademarks, and treat trade secrets as secrets. Vet publishers and investors, demand audit provisions, avoid deals that recoup from the developer’s share, push for escalating royalties, and pad budgets (20–30%) with separate studio and publisher spreadsheets. Include buy‑sell terms for cofounders and get legal review before signing any publishing or investor contract.
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chapters (16)
- 0:00Start
- 0:32Tom Buscaglia the Game Attorney
- 5:52Edward Moore
- 12:17Trademarks
- 15:26Copyrights and Trademarks
- 19:15Contributor Agreement
- 20:08Articles of Incorporation
- 27:00Talking to a Publisher
- 29:32The Types of Things Developers Should Be Looking for in Their Publishing Contracts
- 31:29Ip Ownership
- 32:24Audit Provisions
- 36:18The Budget for the Game
- 43:30What Key Points Should We Pay Attention to When Onboarding a Business Partner or Investor
- 48:35The Raw Fury Publishing Contract
- 53:26The Best Way To Evaluate Future Success
- 56:38Trade Secrets
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