Although the board game industry has experienced ups and downs throughout the years, it has been around for centuries and is still thriving today. However, with so many board games available, it can be difficult to safeguard your concept and make sure that it isn’t copied or taken. We’ll discuss various precautions you can take to safeguard your board game concept in this article and address some related issues. How can I safeguard my concept for a board game?
Making sure your board game concept is unique is the first step in safeguarding it. To find out whether there are any games that are similar, do a comprehensive search. If there are, think about altering your game so that it stands out. Once you’ve established that your game is special, you can take precautions to keep it that way.
Applying for a patent is one approach to safeguard your board game concept. For a predetermined amount of time, usually 20 years, a patent grants you the sole right to use your invention. The patenting procedure, however, can be time- and money-consuming. A patent search, a patent application, and the services of a patent attorney are all required. If your application is accepted, you’ll have to keep your patent active by paying maintenance costs.
Registering your game’s name and logo as a trademark is another approach to safeguard your board game concept. This makes sure that no one else can use the name or logo of your game without your consent. The United States Patent and Trademark Office accepts trademark applications. Remember that the trademark application process can be time-consuming and costly.
Monopoly still has a copyright, yes. Charles Darrow created the game in the 1930s, and it was granted a patent in 1935. The trademark for the game is still protected even if the patent has long since expired. Numerous Monopoly game elements, such as the board layout, the tokens, and the “Go to Jail” card, have been trademarked by Hasbro, the firm that presently owns the game. Does the future of board games look promising?
Despite the popularity of digital gaming growing, board games remain popular. Board games have had a comeback in popularity in recent years, with more people playing them than ever before. This can be partly attributable to the popularity of board game conventions and the growth of tabletop gaming cafes. A lot of people also value the social interaction that comes with playing board games with loved ones.
The board game industry had a slump in the 1990s, but has recently seen a revival. Developing their products has become simpler for independent game designers thanks to the growth of crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter. Additionally, a lot of well-known game businesses have begun to make investments in the sector. As a result, board games are really undergoing a time of development and innovation rather than being in decline.
Board games like Risk, Clue, and Scrabble are among the many classics making a resurgence. The popularity of cooperative games, in which players cooperate to accomplish a common objective, has also increased. Playable cooperative games include Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate, Forbidden Island, and Pandemic. The popularity of party games, which are created to be played in big groups, has also increased recently. In recent years, games like Codenames, Telestrations, and Cards Against Humanity have grown in popularity.