Board Game Copyright, Intellectual Property Law, Patents, and Trademarks. What is protected?
Channel: Tabletop Bellhop
Date: 17/01/2022

In this Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast segment we answer a question about using the mechanics from an older game in your current game design and spend some time talking about copyright, intellectual property, trademarks and patents in regards to board games. 

This show is one segment of The Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 160: Patents, Copyright and Trademarks, Oh My! Find the full episode here: https://youtu.be/CVlp7dkopZ8 (Live January 18th)

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00:00 Intro and Question
Disclaimer: Neither of us are lawyers and nothing said should be taken as legal advice.

Abe Blume asks:
“If a game has been patented for more than 20 years, is it legal to use the card mechanics? Is it still covered by intellectual property? 

Regarding card mechanics, if a game is played with numbers, shapes and colors and the goal of the game is to collect matches, can I still play this exact game if I change the numbers, or shapes or colors to a different factor, such as size?”

01:55 You cannot copyright or trademark game mechanics

05:12 What can you do to protect your game?

Not Playing Around: Board Games and Intellectual Property Law, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/publications/landslide/2014-15/march-april/not-playing-around-board-games-intellectual-property-law/

06:15 Copyright and board games

08:28 Trademarks and board games

13:43 Patents and board games
Us Patent Trading Card Game Method Of Play, https://patents.google.com/patent/US5662332A/en
Us Patent Board Game Apparatus, https://patents.google.com/patent/US2026082A/en

23:44 IP laws vary by country and The Poor Man's Copyright

25:16 If a game has been patented for more than 20 years, can I use it's mechanics?

25:53 Is it still covered by Intellectual Property?

27:10 What if I change the numbers and colours or the size?

28:02 Final thoughts, even if you CAN use material from an existing game, that doesn't mean you should.

29:32 Closing

Want us to answer your gaming or game night question? Fire off an email to: questions@tabletopbellhop.com

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