- 01
Spanish law does not recognize the 'work-for-hire' doctrine, meaning developers must secure explicit written assignments of exploitation rights in all employment and service contracts to ensure legal ownership of creative assets.
- 02
Copyright protection for video game elements arises automatically upon creation and lasts for 70 years after the author's death, or 70 years from disclosure in the case of collective works.
- 03
Trademark protection requires formal registration and provides 10-year terms that are renewable indefinitely, while industrial design protection for GUIs lasts for five-year periods, renewable up to a maximum of 25 years.
- 04
Trade secrets are protected through internal confidentiality agreements and technical safeguards rather than formal registration, making NDAs essential during the development phase.
- 05
The EU legal framework does not recognize the 'fair use' doctrine, limiting the use of third-party materials to public domain works, specific statutory exceptions, and narrow descriptive trademark uses.
- 06
Related rights for creative contributions endure for 50 years, providing a secondary layer of protection alongside standard copyright for specific game assets.