Hi, Some years ago Hasbro purchased Parker Brothers and Milton Bradly. As a result most of the board games out there are now owned and copyrighted by Hasbro Inc.
Just because you can go out and purchase a standard board or card version of Monopoly, Risk, Life, etc doesn't mean creating a PC version is completely legal. Hasbro, as the copyright holder, is legally entitled to royalty fees for using that particular game. Fortunately, they haven't gone after Spoonbill Software, Kitchens Inc, or RS Games, but from a legal standpoint they are well in their rights to sue because its an illegal use of an intellectual copyright, and it may effect the sales of their official product. For example, when you go to the store be it Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Toys R Us, whatever and buy Monopoly that money goes back to Hasbro with a certain amount going to the store for selling it. Now, if you create a Monopoly game for the PC and weather you sell it or not Hasbro isn't making any money off your creation. If a thousand people play your PC Monopoly game Hasbro considers it a thousand possible sales they've lost because of your free Monopoly game. If you consider the average Monopoly board game costs $25.00 USD that's $25,000 they've lost in sales, and they'll expect you to pay them the $25,000 to make up the lost sales. That is why its so dangerous to create games based on a copyright. In many cases Hasbro or another copyright holder might overlook it, ignore it, and not bother with a small time independent game developer. However, if they should come after a game developer he or she could be up to there eyes in hot water in a hurry. The best way to avoid this is to create a game that is similar, but avoid any trademarks that might get them into trouble. For example, I've had an idea for a Monopoly game called Space Colony. You would travel the universe buying up planets, building settlements, and become an intergalactic businessman or woman. The rules could be similar to Monopoly without using any copyrights or trademarks that could bring the wrath of Hasbro down on a developers head. Another idea is take Risk and call it Kingdoms. You could create an entire fantasy board with 42 possible territories and would play using knights, horseman, and chariots. The rule set could be similar to Risk but by creating custom peaces, custom territories, and even custom mission cards you'd completely avoid copyright infringement and create a game that is unique at the same time. Cheers! On 1/14/12, Michael Gauler <[email protected]> wrote: > But who has the rights to board games? > Ok, one developer might have created a PC or console version of Monopoly for > example, but everyone can play this game without a computer and everyone can > buy such a game around the world. > Same should go for other dice and board games and also for card games. > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
