3 ms·
While you can patent a game, or game materials, you can't patent a game mechanic.
by krainboltgreene 16y ago
While you can patent a game, or game materials, you can't patent a game mechanic.
- samtp 16y agoIf its somewhat unique, be clever and call it a business method
- njharman 16y agoYou certainly can't copyright a game mechanic. But, as long as software, algorithms and business processes are patentable so are game mechanics. Also, patents aren't so much about "what's patentable" as "How much are you willing to pay lawyers to uphold/get tossed out a patent"
- rprasad 16y agoYou have that backwards. You can't patent a game or game materials (these can be copyrighted or trademarked or both), but you could patent game mechanics b/c they were "processes" which were patentable under the Federal Circuit's non-existent standard for patentability. In fact, several game mechanics have been patented. Whether those patents remain valid is another question entirely. In 2007, the Supreme Court struck down the ridiculously low bar for patenting business methods and software processes, which includes most game-related patents.
- krainboltgreene 16y ago> You can't patent a game or game materials All the web material and notes I looked for said otherwise. The actual patent website is abysmally unhelpful. I'll have to take your word for it.