What does IP stand for

terminology

I have seen this abbreviation multiple times in relation with computer games.

Take this sentence for example "It's interesting because people look back at our history and our franchises and see that we have some really iconic IPs."
(source). I've seen it in interviews with people from Telltale Games too.

So, any ideas what does it mean?

Best Answer

IP in this context stands for Intellectual Property.

Intellectual property is something unique that has been physically created. An idea alone is not intellectual property. However, a produced game does count.

The IP is anything that is subject to copyright, patents and trademarks. Developers/publishers get some types of protection automatically. Others require registering.

The following gives some examples of items that are considered IP:

  • The plot to a video game
  • Characters, including names and appearances
  • The overall look and feel
  • Sound and video
  • The name of the game
  • A game's engine

Often, IP and franchise/brand are interchangeable. For example, Nintendo may refer to Mario as IP, a franchise or a brand. I believe that is the case with the quote in the question.

Other sources:

US Policies on IP
UK Government Article
Wiki Article
Gamasutra Article

As a side note, IP is also used in gaming when referring to someone's IP address or the Internet Protocol.

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