One of the most played board games worldwide is monopoly. It has been around for more than 85 years, and millions of people have played it. If you’re a lover of the game, you might be interested in creating your own Monopoly game. You can create your own Monopoly game, that much is true. There are a few things you should keep in mind, though.
The name and logo of Monopoly cannot be used in your own game, to start. Hasbro, the business that makes the game right now, owns the trademarks for these. You risk facing legal repercussions if you utilize these without authorization. You can, however, design your own game’s name and logo.
You must submit a trademark application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to register a company name as a trademark. There is a cost associated with this procedure, which might take several months. Additionally, you must confirm that no one else has already registered a trademark for the name you have in mind.
Some board games are available to the general public. This indicates that anyone can use them without obtaining permission because they are no longer covered by copyright. The precise rules and gameplay of the original Monopoly game cannot be used, though, as it is not in the public domain. It’s crucial to initially protect your idea if you have a board game concept and want to sell it to a business. By submitting a provisional patent application, which permits you 12 months to develop your invention before submitting a full patent, you can accomplish this. A non-provisional patent application is an alternative that will fully protect your idea.
Finally, it’s possible to patent board games, but it’s crucial to remember that patents only cover the particular inventions that are covered by them. This implies that you might be able to patent a novel and distinctive gaming mechanic. The concept of a board game, however, cannot be protected by a patent.
In conclusion, you are free to build your own Monopoly game, but you must come up with a name and logo for it because you are not allowed to use the Monopoly name or emblem. A USPTO application must be submitted in order to register a business name as a trademark. Monopoly is not in the public domain, unlike certain board games. You should obtain a provisional or non-provisional patent to safeguard your game idea before attempting to sell it to a business. Only particular game mechanics can be patented in relation to board games.
A sealed envelope containing a description of an invention and left unopened is mailed to the inventor as a poor man’s patent. The theory behind this procedure is that the sealed envelope with a postmark from the USPS can serve as evidence of the invention’s conception date and can be utilized to demonstrate priority in the event of a legal dispute. However, this approach could not hold up in court and is not a replacement for acquiring a legitimate patent.