Creation and Registration of Ideas and Concepts in a Virtual Environment
The present disclosure provides various novel concepts to a video game environment. The disclosure describes video game environments that include a method and system for protecting intellectual property designed by players in a virtual environment for use in the virtual environment.
1 . A method comprising:
providing a first video game environment;
importing an image of an object to be created in a virtual environment;
creating a blueprint from the image of the object;
obtaining a determination of registerability for the blueprint; and
if the blueprint is registerable, registering the blueprint in a virtual patent office.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing access to a database of blueprints for registered objects to player characters interacting in the first game environment.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a determination of registrability comprises comparing the blueprint to other registered blueprints in the virtual environment.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the comparison is performed by an Examiner.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the comparison is performed by a panel.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the comparison is made by an algorithm.
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the creator of the image used to make the blueprint may defend the blueprint.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a determination of registerability comprises comparing the blueprint to real world intellectual property.
9 . A method of creating objects in a virtual environment using a blueprint comprising:
providing a first video game environment;
importing an image of an object to be created in a virtual environment;
creating a blueprint from the image of the object;
determining if the blueprint may be registered;
creating the object depicted by the blueprint.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein if the blueprint cannot be registered an object may not be made from it.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein objects made from a blueprint include the registration information.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein if the blueprint cannot be registered, any object made using the blueprint cannot be sold on an exchange.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein objects made from unregistered blueprints may be sold on a black market.
14 . A method comprising:
providing a first video game environment;
importing an image of an object to be created in a virtual environment from a first player character;
creating a blueprint from the image of the object;
making the rights to the blueprint available to other player characters.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a request to purchase a blueprint from a second player character;
receiving payment for the blueprint from the second player character; and
authorizing the second player character to build the object in the blueprint.
16 . The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a request to license a blueprint from a second player character;
negotiating licensing terms;
receiving payment for the license from the second player character;
and authorizing the second player character to build the object in the blueprint.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the licensing terms include milestone payments.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the rights to the blueprint are made available on an exchange.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the exchange may be between different virtual environments.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the different virtual environments may be in different games.