Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Georgia

You can explore trademark, copyright, and design patent protection for your board game.

You need an IP lawyer, and probably will seek a design patent, trademark and copyright after searches to be sure you haven't infringed on the ideas of others.

There are multiple forms of Intellectual Property (IP) that may be involved in protecting a new board game.

A board game may be patentable as long as it is new, useful and not obvious (the three criteria for patentability). A board game is not new if it has been sold in the U.S. or made public more than one year before a patent is applied for. The game must also not be obvious in view of other games. Not only are the board, playing pieces, and their interaction, patentable subject matter, but the method of playing the game may also be patentable. A �design patent� may also be obtained for the ornamental shape, layout and features of the board game and pieces. The board and the playing pieces may also be copyrighted if they involve an original work of art or authorship. Also, the instructions sheet or manual and the box cover design may be copyrighted. The name that used in connection with the board game (ex: MONOPOLY�), may be trademarked.

I recommend that you contact an experienced Intellectual Property attorney to assist with this .

COMMENTS MADE HEREIN ARE NEITHER LEGAL OPINION NOR DO THEY ESTABLISH AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.