Ask HN: Digitalizing board games?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4425100

by mgallivan • 14 years ago

3 6 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Let's say I wanted to create a video game called Bonopoly. It would have Monopoly's game mechanics. Is this legal?

What if I changed the game board to a circle. Is this legal?

What if I changed the name to B!, changed the game board to a circle, and allowed you to go either way around the board. Is this legal?

Can someone draw a line in the sand for me? (Obviously, seek a lawyer and whatnot - but just as general advice...)

mikecane• 14 years ago

I know nothing about this, but this is interesting: http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/141439/the-unofficial-comp...

anigbrowl• 14 years ago

It's all legal. What you're really asking is whether Parker Brothers (or whoever publishes Monopoly nowadays) could sue you and win. To which my non-lawyer answers would be: yes, yes, and most likely.The longer it would take to demonstrate the similar, the better your chances; in other words, the more you tweak and change the rules, the more it becomes your own thing.

koopajah2• 14 years ago

I'm not a lawyer but I found some links that might interest you so I hope this helps.

An interesting link about this : http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2011/12/22/patenting-board-games-1...

Also the paragraph about Monopoly on its Wikipedia page : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_board_game_Monop...

This seem to indicate that a board game can be patented not only on its design or its name but also on its rules. So this seem to show that you cannot decide to take your favourite board game, "digitalize" it and just change the name and be of the hook.

The same seem to apply to Games on TV where channels pay rights to make their own version of the game in another country for example/

njharman• 14 years ago

Mechanics are not protected by U.S. copyright. A specific description of those mechanics (aka "text of the rules") is.

Monopoly is a TradeMark and Bonopoly is (I bet a jury will agree) confusingly similar.

The line is, if you get the attention of someone big (or big headed) they will sue and or threaten to sue. Even if you are legally in the right it will probably not be in your financial interests to defend yourself.

So, - Don't be a dick. - Do not use any names, art, design from the original. - Don't do this for profit. It will never be profitable. - Make your electronic version, but be prepared to dump it when you get cease and desist order.

mgallivan• 14 years ago

I can appreciate that. The question wasn't intended to be, "What game can I rip onto Android?" as much as it was, "If I make a game, how certain do I have to be that the mechanics don't exist already?"

Obviously, if I use a different name, artwork, and rule set there isn't really a problem.

koopajah2• 14 years ago

I'd say the same apply as for any other business. If something already exists then they could sue you to stop distributing your game and/or pay for royalties. So before starting the full development you should make sure that your version of the game is not a copy of an existing one. And changing one minor rule (going to both sides) or replacing terms like "hotel" becoming "skyscrappers" will look like complete copy.

Ask HN: Digitalizing board games?

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