论具体游戏规则的版权保护

Copyright Protection of Specific Game Rules

网络游戏规则为网络游戏作品的内在表达元素,内在于网络游戏的外在表达之中。具体到一定程度的网络游戏规则具有可版权性。具体的网络游戏规则同网络游戏作品的其他构成元素之间存在勾联关系,只有结合网络游戏的其他构成元素才能正确定义具体网络游戏规则。真正意义上的可版权性游戏规则应该是整体规则而非个体规则,整体规则往往表现为个体规则之间的串联和耦合关系。对网络游戏规则的版权保护宜在作品整体中予以实现。在判定网络游戏规则是否构成版权侵权时,宜结合网络游戏的画面表达及玩家体验进行。若游戏的画面表达完全不同,很难径直判定两部网络游戏作品的游戏规则实质性相似。玩家的游戏体验对判定网络游戏及游戏规则之间是否存在实质性相似亦极具参考价值。对复杂游戏与简单游戏的游戏规则的版权侵权判定宜采不同标准,前者采实质性相似标准,后者采高度近似标准。

The rules of online games as intrinsic elements of the game's expression,embedded within its external expression.To a certain extent,specific rules of online games can be eligible for copyright protection.These specific rules are interdependent with other constituent elements of online game;only through these other constituent elements can specific rules be accurately defined.Game rules eligible for genuine copyright protection should encompass overall rules rather than isolated ones,often demonstrated through the interconnection and coupling of individual rules.Copyright protection for game rules should be considered within context of the entire work.When determining whether game rules constitute copyright infringement,both the visual expression of the game and player experiences should be considered.If the visual expression of the games differs significantly,it becomes difficult to directly ascertain substantial similarity between the game rules of the two works.Player experiences are also crucial in determining substantial similarity between online games and their rules.In determining copyright infringement of game rules for complex versus simple games,different standards should be adopted:a substantial similarity standard for complex games,and a high similarity standard for simple games.