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Forum index » Meta » General META Discussion

Liability issues with ARGs
Moderators: imbri, ndemeter

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Jas0n
Decorated

Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 244

Liability issues with ARGs
sometimes we may face them (for discussions)

How would we overcome possible liability issues with ARGs?

If we run a "contest" which is an ARG but the contestants in the game are not contestants as advertised in the fictional site at the launch of the ARG, but characters, would that constitute a liability issue?

If so could we run a disclaimer in which somewhere buried within it there is a mention that this is an ARG?

Also - I've noticed many of these websites that are being used as a launching ground (such as the human pet) that find some of the content in the game offensive or a "possible" violation of TOS... should there be a method in which these companies are contacted to prevent this from being a liability to them (such as youtube)?

I know as a game designer, I want the players to feel as involved in the story as possible and in order to do so - much of the content has to be realistic and believable.

I think there should be a method we could use to contact some of these companies and explain to them what is going on and what we intend to do. I know I see many movie trailers in which their fictional content would violate the TOS of youtube, google video, etc... and yet the production companies can get away with that .......

Is this something we're going to need to create some sort of advocacy group of some sort to help keep the thread of reality in ARGs, or do we have to fall by the wayside and give away the fact that the game is fiction to protect our behinds and those of the companies assisting by hosting.

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Most recent game developed: Ny Takma
We are that which the game makes of us

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:13 pm

MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?

Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
Location: State of Denial

Re: Liability issues with ARGs
sometimes we may face them (for discussions)

Jas0n wrote:

Put in a limiting factor such as "limited to the residents of <insert>" That way Players can sign up for the contest but be disqualified for not living inside the appropriate city.

Quote:

If so could we run a disclaimer in which somewhere buried within it there is a mention that this is an ARG?

It is in all how you word the disclaimer however by saying "This is an ARG" you break the "This is not and ARG" mantra.

Quote:

Also - I've noticed many of these websites that are being used as a launching ground (such as the human pet) that find some of the content in the game offensive or a "possible" violation of TOS... should there be a method in which these companies are contacted to prevent this from being a liability to them (such as youtube)?

If your material is going to voilate the TOS, then don't put your content there. If the website is not under your control, then play nice and follow the site rules.

Quote:

I know as a game designer, I want the players to feel as involved in the story as possible and in order to do so - much of the content has to be realistic and believable.

I think there should be a method we could use to contact some of these companies and explain to them what is going on and what we intend to do. I know I see many movie trailers in which their fictional content would violate the TOS of youtube, google video, etc... and yet the production companies can get away with that .......

Because many of them have the funds to pay for the variance. Look at it this way - a average John or Jane Doe WOULD get kicked off sites for violating TOS. By violating the TOS - even if you have permission from the site owner - you have created something that might break the suspension of disbelief for someone. Therefore, wouldn't it make more sense to create something for these other sites that was a teaser that fit into the TOS for the site that directs traffic to your site where you could show the full content and not worry about breaking TOS?

Quote:

Is this something we're going to need to create some sort of advocacy group of some sort to help keep the thread of reality in ARGs, or do we have to fall by the wayside and give away the fact that the game is fiction to protect our behinds and those of the companies assisting by hosting.

Hmmm.... Maybe this is something that would make a good discussion for the Puppet Master Guide Chat Channel

imbri wrote:

When there's enough interest, we'll hold focused chats on specific topics. If you have a suggestion of something you'd like to see talked about - mention it here or, if you don't want people to know it's you asking the question, send me a PM and I'll post it anonymously and never tell anyone who wanted to know.

_________________
Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:49 am

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