Gametech wrote: >>Umm the computer gaming industry? You mean like Sony Playstation? As >>in mod chips infringe our copyright? I take your word for the fact >>that patenting in gaming design is uncommon. But I suspect copyright >>is enforced. As an experiment start burning games to CD and floging >>them on the internet and see how long it is till you get a visit from >>some lawyers. Trust me if you spent 3 years writing a game and then >>some punk started making there own copies and flogging them at three >>quarters of the price openly you might think that copyright was a >>useful set of laws. >> > > Actually I'm talking about 'Games' not the sub category of them being > 'Video' There is content in video games that is often copyrighted, like the > images, and the soundtrack. The 'idea' behind the game isn't patentable. > Case in point popular games spur many similar titles, of which unless they > are 'enough different' will flop. > Hence we come to the difference between Copyright and Patents. All games will be copyrighted and probably trade marked. And if you were to infringe that most companies will come after you with a big stick. Patents in the gaming industry I don't know about, so I will take your word for it. On of the more interesting things in the gaming industries with respect to intellectual property is the Open Gaming License WOTC are using for 3rd edition D&D. I have heard that it is a great money spinner for them, and a case in point of how you can have your cake and eat it too:) Maybe they just want to become the Microsoft of roleplaying games? Andrew.