(German Topic) Impressumspflicht in Spielen? (Information requirements in games?)

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For english speakers, this Topic is about a german law. Thats why i wrote the following text in german, it´s a law that, as far as i know, does not exist in other countries. So please excuse me that i wont create an english translation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressum

Hi,

in der Hoffnung das hier ein paar Entwickler aus Deutschland rumspringen habe ich eine Frage bezüglich der Impressumspflicht. Diese gibt es meines Wissens nach nur in Österreich, Deutschland und der Schweiz. Für mich stellt sich die frage in wie weit diese Pflicht auch für Spiele, insbesondere Smartphone Spiele greift. Ich finde im Internet hierzu widersprüchliche Aussagen, nach dem Telemediengesetz bin ich aber der Meinung das ein Spiel kein Impressum braucht. Eine App die beispielsweise Nachrichten verbreitet benötigt hingegen ein Impressum weil es sich um Redaktionelle Inhalte handelt.

Ich habe aus Spaß, also als Hobby eine App entwickelt, es handelt sich dabei um ein einfaches Spiel welches in meinen Augen gut genug ist um es in den Play Store zu werfen. Allerdings möchte ich nicht wegen einem Hobby bzw. einem Versuch der vermutlich eh kein Geld bringt gefahrlaufen, eine Abmahnung oder anderes zu bekommen. Meine Frage ist also, ob ich in einem Smartphone Spiel und Video spielen allgemein ein Impressum benötige? Wie handhabt ihr das?

Viele Grüße TheRefoH

Answer 1

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Answer by TheRefoH · Aug 27, 2014 at 10:51 AM

I found an answer to my question. So for those who are interested: In germany the situation about an Impressum inside of a app isnt completly clear yet. It depends on what kind of app it is and if it is only offline. Right now the most people say that, if it is just a offline application and a game you dont need an Impressum. I dont know how it is in austria and switzerland. Like i already said in my first post, the so called Impressum does not concern someone whos not from germany, austria or switzerland.

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Answer 2

Answer by David-Berger · Aug 26, 2014 at 03:13 PM

The answer might be a little bit tricky, I'm no legal scholar so all I write here is just a wild guess and if you want to be sure, you need to go to a legal scholar who deals with software questions.

When you publish your game via App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Steam and other platforms you need to be a registered developer anyway (address verification and bank details). This means that the digital right is covered by the operator of the store. If you need to specify a different EULA you can do so when you release your app. In the stores you can provide an additional links to your EULA, which is linked directly in the store. If you host your own EULA, you will do this on your own website and therefore, you need to include the "Impressum" anyway and as the same information is shared in the EULA you should be covered by this anyway. The same counts for DVDs and other media. So you might not need it in your game as it should be handled on the operator side.

Something to read (german only) https://www.wko.at/

Would be nice if others would share their experience too! I'll keep this answer up to date when I get more information to the topic!

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TheRefoH · Aug 26, 2014 at 04:02 PM 0

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Thank you, thats a good explanation. That i need the so called "Impressum" on a Website anyway is true. And i am ok with that, i am furthermore ok with giving out Personal Information to the Play Store or S$$anonymous$$m. But still without the need of an real Impressum i will not be forced to give out my phonenumber and address. I may be forced to give it to google like i already did for the developer console, but this number isnt going to be displayed to my customers. So if i avoid creating a website and if i dont need an Impressum in my App, theres no need to give out my number and address. If i see that i can earn money with it i am ok with having a website and an Impressum, but for the first release which is just a test i dont want to go that far.

Since there might be a few english speakers who are interested, i am goging to write in english ;)

meat5000 ♦ · Aug 26, 2014 at 04:15 PM 0

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This information is always publicly available anyway, as far as I know. It's part of the transparency required by Companies these days.

Just don't use your Home details. The details you register should be the details of your company and your Company will own the product (unless you licence the product to the company legally).

As $$anonymous$$r Berger states, the ga$$anonymous$$g equivalent is an EULA and you will find that pretty much every game out there has one, usually also containing identifiable company information. $$anonymous$$ost games contain some legal section in the opening images but I see no reason why you can't add this to a Credits-like section.

There is no harm in registering a second business for your first release. In Britain this costs 20 quid. I'd be tempted to register a PO box in the U$$anonymous$$ and I'm sure similar services exist elsewhere, or rent a small (Joint/Unit) office space for the sake of professional image.

Just keep in $$anonymous$$d that no-one really trusts a company that hides themselves.

http://www.royalmail.com/parcel-despatch-low/uk-delivery/po-box

TheRefoH · Aug 27, 2014 at 09:50 AM 0

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What you are saying is true, however i dont run a company right now. It is going to be my first app release and i consider it as a test. If it works out i will create a company and then i dont have a Problem with giving out any informations about me. But as long as i do it as a privat Person i dont wont to use an Impressum. An EULA is different than an Impressum, I would need both. But for now I´ll just stick to the EULA.

(German Topic) Impressumspflicht in Spielen? (Information requirements in games?)

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