>Wotc is one of the few table top game companies that has a patent, they >have >patented the idea of a 'collectible card game' >Which clearly is assinine, children made a game of trading cards long >before >obsure rules were added to the mix. Here's how rumors start. WotC did not patent 'collectible card games.' Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: the Gathering (the first true CCG), got a patent on the act of 'tapping,' turning a card 90 degrees clockwise to act as a memory marker that it had been used. He 'gave' his patent to WotC, so they reap the benefits. Note that Dr. Garfield is no longer an employee at WotC: he's a freelance game designer. Of course, even an avid gamer such as myself will admit it's kind of ridiculous to get a patent on something like that... Ian _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail