How do you get rights to a board game?

You trademark a game name by applying to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and getting your application approved for registration. Trademarking a game name is a legal process that usually takes about 12 months. So, the sooner you start trademarking your game name, the better.

Do board games get copyrighted?

Copyright can protect the rules of the game in their written form as this falls under a literary work. Copyright also protects the drawings of the board game, cards, and graphics. Copyright protection will exist for the life of the author with an additional 50 years.

How much does it cost to patent a board game?

The legal fees will cover the costs of maintaining a patent, prosecuting infringers, and other related expenses. The cost of utility patenting a board game can be as low as $665, depending on its complexity. A large company may need a lawyer to file a patent, while small entities will pay less than half of that.

Do I need a patent for a board game?

This is a difficulty for board games; where most works of art can claim copyright protection from the moment of offer to the public, board games need to work through the patent process to fend off plagiarists.

How do you get a patent for a board game?

Getting Your Rights Back | Board Game Contracts Explained: Part 3 *Board Game Design*

How do I patent a board game in the US?

To receive a patent on your board game, you must file a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (https://www.uspto.gov/). The patent application should include an Abstract to broadly describe the game.

Can anyone make a board game?

There are many avenues to choose when throwing around your idea for a project. Now, more than ever, developing things like board games has never been easier. Not only that but people who aren't even familiar with making a board game can easily do it.

How do I protect my board games?

Do you need a license to publish a game?

You'll probably need a local business license (~$100 altogether up here in Roseville, CA; business license, fictitious name check, and home business fee). You may also need a Seller's Permit.

What is the difference between a patent and a copyright?

What Is the Difference Between a Patent, Copyright, and Trademark? A patent protects new inventions, processes, or scientific creations, a trademark protects brands, logos, and slogans, and a copyright protects original works of authorship.

How do I make my own board game or sell it?

How much money can you make inventing a board game?

On average, board game designers make between $56,000-$113,000 a year. A board game designer with less than 1 year's experience makes between $42,000-$87,000. With 7-14 year's experience, a board game designer can expect to earn between $51,000-$113,000.

What is the cheapest way to get a patent?

A provisional patent application is a cheaper option. However, a provisional patent application does not grant legal protection for the applicant's invention. Within 12 months of filing, the applicant must either convert the provisional application or file a non-provisional.

What parts of a board game are copyrighted?

As a general rule, the rules, boards, artwork, and other aesthetic or literary elements to a game are copyrightable and protected as such. These protected elements are referred to as the “theme” of the game. Distinct from the “theme” of the game are the game mechanics, which cannot be copyrighted.

Are board games still profitable?

How much profit can a board game company make? A successful board game business can make tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If a game sells for $30 per copy, selling just 1,000 games would generate a revenue of $30,000. In some cases, businesses are much more successful than this.

Can I sell my board game idea?

Amazon, Ebay, YouTube, crowdfunding sites, board game cafes, meet-up clubs and databases and forums like boardgamegeek all make it possible for a one-man-band inventor to publish, market and sell their masterpiece without help from the big boys.

Can I create a game and sell it?

You just need to make sure that your marketing does replicate the experience that a consumer will get when they play your game. You might also want to look at options like video production. A video production company will make the marketing for your game far more immersive and exciting.

Do I need an LLC to publish games?

You generally need to be approved by the platform holders before you can even start work. You don't necessarily need an LLC to do it - there are a variety of ways to structure your company. But its a good idea to properly put things together.

Can you self publish a game?

Self-publishing means you're in charge of marketing your own game. You're in charge of user acquisition and getting your game known—while shouldering all the costs. It means all the expenses associated with funding, developing, testing, marketing, and releasing the game are entirely up to you.

Is it illegal to copy a board game?

There should not a problem as long as you don't copy any specific names, things or text since you cannot trademark or copyright gameplay & rules.

How do I protect my board game from being copied?

Trademark. A trademark can protect the name and other aspects of a board game. Trademarks serve to identify the source of a particular product or service and to distinguish the products of one seller from those of others in the marketplace.

How do I protect my game from being copied?

The best way of doing this is to register for federal trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). By following the USPTO's online guide to trademark registration, you will see that you can register the name of products (such as a game).

What is a board game creator called?

In the board and card game industry—aka the tabletop game industry—game designers are called inventors. Brian Tinsman is a professional game inventor with over 35 published tabletop game products.

How do you get a game published?

What do you call someone who makes board games?

A board game designer is a person who designs board games. This category also includes designers of card games, miniatures games, and trading card games. Designers of German-style board games are often credited on the box.