Copyright of formulae or procedures

Company A has created a very complex board game where units move and combat other units as defined by formulae and procedures in its rules. Each unit contains systems which also behave as defined formulae and procedures.

Company B wishes to create computer utilites to aid in the management of games played using Company As game system and writes several programs which aid in the operation of the game by resolving all formulae and procedures. Example: A unit called foo has the ability to move x spaces each turn so long as severl conditions are met as defined in the games rules. Company Bs utility program recognizes this and does not instruct the player controlling foo to move when it is not entitled to.

Company C wishes to create a computer game that will appeal to players of Company As game system and writes a computer game using the exact same formulae and procedures, but uses different units, names and fictional background.

Both companies B and C writes their programs in such a way as to not include any possible trademark violations as well as not including any verbose text or graphic art that might violate copyright directly.

Does either Company Bs or Cs computer program violate Company As copyright in the game system?

Where, if any, is a formulae or procedure *not* protected under copyright, but require a patent to become protected?

Lastly. If either Company B or C adds a "personalize" feature to their computer programs where trademarked names or copyright protected tabular data could be entered into the program by the end user and saved (thus prividing the means for the END USER to exactly duplicate the board game in a computerized game), does this have any impact as to whether the computer programs violate copyright?

Mark Means
<mjmeans[_at_]goodnet.com> Received on Mon Apr 27 1998 - 23:03:32 GMT