Legal Question in Administrative Law in Massachusetts

Re: A Copyright Question

If the "game walkthrough" is written down or recorded (on a VHS, CD, or audio tape, for example), and if it contains any strategy or originality of thought, then it is likely protectable by copyright. Preparing and submitting a copyright application is realitively inexpensive, and no matter what you think (or what advice you get), the only way to KNOW whether a work will be registered is to prepare a proper application and submit it. The Copyright office will then tell you whether they will register the work. Even the Copyright office is not perfect in determining what is and is not registrable, which is why there are from time to time lawsuits filed to challenge a denial of registration.

If the walkthrough is totally functional, it may not be registrable. For example: "1. Roll the dice, 2. Move the token the number of spots on the dice, 3. Go to step 1" -- might not be registrable, because it might be viewed as totally without creativity. It does not take much to have "creativity" in a recorded work. You should have a Copyright attorney help prepare your application, it will cost but a few hundred dollars.