{"id":24850,"date":"2022-12-16T04:43:33","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T04:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.herotime1.com\/?p=24850"},"modified":"2025-10-06T08:56:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T08:56:57","slug":"design-patent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herotime1.com\/academy\/design\/design-patent\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Patent"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Once you’ve settled on a firm design concept, you may think about the idea of patenting your game. Below, we’ve explained the process of patenting a game, as well as when it is (and isn’t) a good idea.<\/p>\n
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First, you want to ask yourself if you need or want to patent a board game. If you are a small indie board game creator who is looking to give the game to his friends family and the surrounding area. Then to patent a board game might not be the right idea. You can maybe copy right some of your artwork instead. However, if you are a large board game publishers, or even a small publisher with a vision and desire to one day become a big-time player, then patenting the board game you are working on\u00a0is essential.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In our days\u00a0there are fake copies of most of the best\u00a0selling games<\/strong>\u00a0out there. These counterfeit board games are sold online and in other channels to people all over the world. While an original copy can cost $50-150, the fake\u00a0board games are\u00a0selling for $5-40.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Well, this is again specific for each board game. But, by and large, there are two types of patents, a utility patent that for a\u00a0novice utility that has\u00a0yet to come into the market, and the second type is a\u00a0design patent<\/strong>\u00a0which protects<\/strong>\u00a0the way the unique design of an object\/item. In board games,\u00a0aside from new things like the dice in\u00a0\u201cDice Forge,\u201d. There aren\u2019t too many new mechanisms and tools that are being invented, and that can be under a utility patent. Therefore the best option for protecting a board game is a design patent\u00a0that patents\u00a0the combination of mechanisms, cards, components, and pictures used in the game<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aside from a Design Patent, a company can also Trademark its\u00a0logo and name, and copyright the artwork. However, these two methods will not completely protect your\u00a0board game<\/a>. In both cases, it is enough to change a small part of the work or words to avoid\u00a0infringement. For example, if a factory wants to counterfeit a card game lets say \u201c7 wonders\u201d all they need\u00a0to do is change it to \u201c8 wonders\u201d. In copyright as well, they should only change a small part of the picture to avoid infringement.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0A trademark or copyright will help only if the counterfeiter makes or\u00a0sells the same exact game one to one, or if he is selling damaged goods that you didn\u2019t authorize.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, with a design patent, even if the counterfeiter\u00a0changed the art or name, the mechanics of the game and the overall gameplay stay\u00a0the same, so your game is protected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can patent your board game in any country in the world, and starting from the country of your primary market will be a good start, However,\u00a0if you are looking to protect against counterfeiters,<\/strong>\u00a0you should really consider patenting your game in the counterfeit capital\u00a0of the world. While, in developed countries, people, in general, avoid counterfeiting of making a one to one copy of your game,\u00a0in China<\/strong>\u00a0and some other less-developed countries, this concept is still not fully absorbed and practiced.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Therefore if your budget is low, the first place for you to patent your board game will be none other than China itself.\u00a0Once the Chinese government is backing your IP, no factory and no store will ever dare touch a fake game<\/strong>\u00a0of any sort. Plus, the cost of a design patent in China is\u00a0extremely low, and the process is quite fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The same goes for a trademark\u00a0or copyright; once it is registered in China, you can shut down any factory or any store that sells it, whether brick and mortar or online, whether selling in China or other countries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In all countries, the process is similar.\u00a0First,<\/strong>\u00a0there is a need to\u00a0search<\/strong>\u00a0in the government database to see if anyone already registered a similar patent or trademark\u00a0for a board game. Once the search is complete and there is an authorization that no one previously used the specific game or trademark,\u00a0then<\/strong>\u00a0we can\u00a0apply<\/strong>\u00a0for a design patent or trademark. After applying, it takes time for the official body to examine the application, and then some time to register it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n That aspect depends on each country. In the USA a design patent and trademark can take anywhere between 10-12 months, in Europe it is between 8-12 months, but\u00a0in China<\/strong>\u00a0a trademark is up to 8 months, and\u00a0a design patent takes only 4-5 months.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n2. Price of Patent & Counterfeited Board Game:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3. Second, what patent do I need for my board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
4. Shall I also trademark and copy right a board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Board Game Copy Rights:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Where should I take IP Protection for my board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Benefits of IP Protection:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. What is the process of Patenting a board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
7. How long does it take to Patent and trademark a board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
8. Can Hero Time help me Patent my board game?<\/strong><\/h2>\n