Contractual, legal and ethical obligations in the games industry.

The employment contract is the first type of contract. This sets out the terms and conditions of your employment, i.e. how you will both work together and what both parties (you and the company) will do for each other.

Employment contracts in the gaming industry are likely to include clauses about benefits (which would include royalties), confidentiality (preventing leaks to competitors), inventions (the company’s right to any game you develop whilst working for them), and not competing with the company during the time you are employed by them or for a period after your timed work there ends.

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Disclosure Agreements, and Confidentiality Agreements are very similar. One party divulges (discloses) some confidential information such as a game plan, new technology or processes for producing games or a business deal that hasn't yet been publicly announced and has to tell this to the other party. The other party must agree to not disclose this information, otherwise legal damage and compensation must be paid for breaching the contract.