Overview of Board Game Patenting
It usually takes $18,00 to $20,000 to get a game made and start a business. While trademarks and copyrights protect your game’s name and artwork, how can you prevent someone from emulating the play style? Many don’t realize board games can be patented. The Patent Office grants patents for detailed processes, so rule sets have long been eligible.
Utility Patent for Board Games
A utility patent protects functional aspects like rules and gameplay. The process involves conducting a search, preparing an filing an application, waiting for examination, and receiving a patent or office action. Patent protection offers exclusive rights for a period of time.
Cost and Process of Patenting a Board Game
How much does it cost to patent a board game? Do you want to patent a board game? The good news is, the cost is one of the lowest of any intellectual property. Therefore you can save money by using a streamlined process, which means you get your board game patented cheaply and quickly.
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Steps to Patenting a Card Game:
Patenting a card game involves a systematic process. Here are some of the steps to getting it done correctly. -
Game Board Design Protection:
If your game includes a game board or play area with a unique design not dictated solely by functional considerations, you can protect the visual appearance of the game board through a design patent.
Copyrighting a Board Game
How do you copyright a board game? For board games, copyright protection can extend to the game board, game cards, instruction manuals, and the packaging as these are all deemed original creative expressions. However, copyright does not typically protect the ideas, systems, or game mechanics, even if they are novel. Copyright protects the expression of the idea, not the idea itself.
- Copyrighting Process:
To copyright a board game, the designer must create all of the original creative elements – rules text, images, graphic design. Complete and submit the correct copyright form. Pay the filing fee. Submit deposit material.