[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[HoE] Re: Patenting RPGs



> I have also heard that WotC is trying to put out a patent on "role-playing
> game."  I'm not sure if the rumor is true or not, but they do own patents on
> "collectible card games" and "tapping."
>
> Comments?

I'm not a patent lawyer, but I believe there is a time limit on patenting an idea.
I think it's either 20 years, in which case they've missed the boat. Someone who is
a patent lawyer could probably correct me on that, but there are also a number of
good sites on the web on patent law if you're interested.

Second, I think trying to patent RPGs would run into more trouble than CCGs did.
Nobody out there had the wherewithal to fight the CCG patent; arguably, all the
elements they included (except tapping) already existed in the baseball collectible
card market--however, they (to my knowledge) aren't trying to enforce the patent on
the few games designed to work with baseball cards. Which, BTW, already have
patented many CCG processes.

That said, WW, SJGames, Decipher (owners of FASA) and a whole slew of smaller
companies would likely take that patent (assuming it was granted in the first
place) to court as a group. Sure, they probably couldn't outmoney WotC, but they
could make a good case for it. WotC would find itself facing not only them, but
computer companies that produce computer RPGs (ala Ultima Online) as well, unless
they worded the patent _very_ carefully.

Until you see some official announcement on it, I'd write it off as another product
of the "evil WotC empire" internet rumor-mill.

Not that such foundations make it false--just unlikely. ;-)

John