Patents, Copyright and Trademarks, Oh My!

Patents, Copyright and Trademarks, Oh My! What you can and cannot use from an existing game.   We answer a question about using the mechanics from an older game in your current game design and spend some time talking about copyright, intellectual property, trademarks and patents. We also review Disney Sidekicks, a new cooperative game from Eric Lang, and have some more thoughts on Lost Ruins of Arnak, Doodle Dungeon and more.   Episode 160, recorded January 12th, 2022. Join us Wednesdays at Nine PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop   If you enjoy the show consider tipping the Bellhop at: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop   More detailed show notes: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep160/   Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.   SUGGESTION BOX  Send feedback to moe@tabletopbellhop.com   Yardmaster Review on Youtube, https://youtu.be/Syvhjg_-ii8   The Bellhops Best of 2021, https://youtu.be/XRDFS-uK2CM Aventuria Inn of the Black Boar, https://www.nobleknight.com/P/2147800656/Inn-of-the-Black-Boar?awid=1091 Bad Company, https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/340677/bad-company   Galaxy Trucker 2021 Unboxing, https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/340677/bad-company   ASK THE BELLHOP  Disclaimer: Neither of us are lawyers and nothing said should be taken as legal advice.   “If a game has been patented for more than 20 years, is it legal to use the card mechanics? Is it still covered by intellectual property?    Regarding card mechanics, if a game is played with numbers, shapes and colors and the goal of the game is to collect matches, can I still play this exact game if I change the numbers, or shapes or colors to a different factor, such as size?”   Not Playing Around: Board Games and Intellectual Property Law, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/publications/landslide/2014-15/march-april/not-playing-around-board-games-intellectual-property-law/   Us Patent Trading Card Game Method Of Play, https://patents.google.com/patent/US5662332A/en   Board Game Apparatus, https://patents.google.com/patent/US2026082A/en   Send questions to questions@tabletopbellhop.com   THE GAME ROOM - Disney Sidekicks A detailed looks at this new cooperative game from Eric M Lang Unboxing Video, https://youtu.be/D6k6509CYOg Written review on the blog, https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/disney-sidekicks/ Pick up your own copy of Disney Sidekicks, https://amzn.to/3A4GEk0   THE BELLHOPS TABLETOP  Lost Ruins of Arnak, https://amzn.to/3tu6zjZ Doodle Dungeon, https://amzn.to/3nywd37 Tripples, https://amzn.to/3fxQTE8   FIND US: Sign up for our newsletter: https://newsletter.tabletopbellhop.com Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tabletopbellhop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop?sub_confirmation=1 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop