Comments on: Who Invented Risk? http://blog.chroniql.com/2008/03/23/who-invented-risk/ The Wide World of Funware Explored Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:28:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: gabe http://blog.chroniql.com/2008/03/23/who-invented-risk/#comment-556 gabe Mon, 26 May 2008 05:14:21 +0000 http://blog.chroniql.com/2008/03/23/who-invented-risk/#comment-556 Wade - thanks for the note. I think this is a somewhat semantic argument, and there's a lot of "proof" and enforceability questions that are raised. I think there are patents that have been issued for game design elements, but rarely for a complete game design itself. Not sure if that's a reflection of the lack of possibility (imagination? greed? interest?) or what, but it does beg a series of interesting questions. Your post got me digging around a bit further about game patents, and I've updated the original post with a couple more links of interest! Wade - thanks for the note. I think this is a somewhat semantic argument, and there’s a lot of “proof” and enforceability questions that are raised. I think there are patents that have been issued for game design elements, but rarely for a complete game design itself. Not sure if that’s a reflection of the lack of possibility (imagination? greed? interest?) or what, but it does beg a series of interesting questions.

Your post got me digging around a bit further about game patents, and I’ve updated the original post with a couple more links of interest!

]]> By: Wade http://blog.chroniql.com/2008/03/23/who-invented-risk/#comment-552 Wade Fri, 23 May 2008 16:28:33 +0000 http://blog.chroniql.com/2008/03/23/who-invented-risk/#comment-552 Gabe- I fundamentally agree with the points you've made in this post. However, I just wanted to point out that saying "You cannot patent a game design." is not strictly true. People DO patent game designs on a regular basis. Now, whether these patents are defensible is another question altogether, but simply having been granted a patent would probably represent some value for the holder, at least in the eyes of potential investors/acquirers, some of whom may have the legal firepower to at least make life very uncomfortable for other entrepreneurs who they feel might be violating said patent. cheers! Wade Gabe-

I fundamentally agree with the points you’ve made in this post. However, I just wanted to point out that saying “You cannot patent a game design.” is not strictly true. People DO patent game designs on a regular basis. Now, whether these patents are defensible is another question altogether, but simply having been granted a patent would probably represent some value for the holder, at least in the eyes of potential investors/acquirers, some of whom may have the legal firepower to at least make life very uncomfortable for other entrepreneurs who they feel might be violating said patent.

cheers!

Wade

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