In Week 09 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Nigel Mairs guided me to research and compile arguments from scholarly books, academic journals, and legal research connected to my thesis topic on player generated avatars and digital ownership. I explored how copyright law, intellectual property systems, and platform regulations have developed around digital identities and online game spaces. This helped me build a stronger theoretical foundation for my literature review and supported my understanding of how ownership functions in digital platforms.
Step 1: Compiling different Academic Arguments
I studied different academic perspectives related to user authorship, virtual worlds, digital labour, and platform control. I researched how scholars discuss the balance between player creativity and corporate ownership within online platforms. I also explored discussions around derivative works, publicity rights, and digital identity protection. These readings helped me understand the differences between theoretical ownership and practical ownership within commercial gaming ecosystems.
Step 2: Exploring Legal frameworks
I reviewed scholarly sources such as Ochoa’s research on avatar ownership and joint authorship, which discusses the creative relationship between players and platforms.
I also explored research connected to copyright and trademark conflicts in virtual worlds, especially regarding player generated assets and monetised content. Alongside this, I studied books related to online game culture and virtual world systems, which helped me understand how platform structures operate both legally and commercially.
This week allowed me to connect legal frameworks with academic theories and industry practices. It also helped me strengthen the critical analysis within my literature review by supporting my argument with both scholarly discussions and platform based evidence.