RE: Games

Jonathan L. Miller asked: "Any recommendations about intellectual property protection for board games? Copyright? (Trademark is obvious). Patent? Any one know of any pitfalls?"  

Board games are generally entitled to patent protection, but few of them have enough success and shelf-life to warrant the time and expense involved in obtaining a patent.  

Copyright, of course, attaches upon fixation; and it is a very smart idea to register the copyright in the text and graphic elements of the game as early as possible.  

The name of the game becomes the trademark under which it is marketed, so it is important to do a trademark search before naming the game, and it is a wise move to apply for federal registration for both the name of the game and any other trademarks that may be adopted in connection with aspects of the game.  

Robert C. Cumbow
 Graham & Dunn PC
 1420 Fifth Avenue, 33rd Floor
 Seattle, WA 98101-2390
 206.340.9619
 206.340.9599 fax
 rcumbow[_at_]grahamdunn.com
  http://www.grahamdunn.com <http://www.grahamdunn.com/>   

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-----Original Message-----
From: JonMEsq[_at_]aol.com [mailto:JonMEsq[_at_]aol.com] Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 5:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Games

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