IPC 2 © Barry Quest 2010 1 Basics of Intellectual Property Establishing a Balanced IP Portfolio for Games and Games-Related Products Establishing a Balanced

iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 1

Basics of Intellectual Property Basics of Intellectual Property Establishing a Balanced IP Portfolio Establishing a Balanced IP Portfolio

for Games and Games-Related for Games and Games-Related ProductsProducts

Barry QuestBarry Quest

MA(Oxon), MRSC, CPA, EPA, MITMAMA(Oxon), MRSC, CPA, EPA, MITMAEuropean Patent AttorneyEuropean Patent Attorney

iPCiPC22-Patents-Patents

www.ipc2.co.ukwww.ipc2.co.uk


Game are valuable productsGame are valuable products

Games are worth protectingGames are worth protecting


Games are Games are reallyreally valuable valuable

Games are Games are really really worth protectingworth protecting

2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2$310m on launch - more than any movie

2009 AVATAR$1b in first month for the film - game less successful ….

….. but ACII sold 6m copies Nov09 to Jan10


Traditionally patents were relied onTraditionally patents were relied on

Coincidence detection

Sanders Associates – pre-Pong GB 1268821 (1969). First use of a television receiver as an interactive device.$18.5m in licence revenue by 1982


--- especially in the USA--- especially in the USA

US Patent 4448419 (1982) US Patent 4448419 (1982)

The ‘virtual reel’ slot machine patent.

$10.8m court settlement 1999 $10.8m court settlement 1999 – – licensed to the industrylicensed to the industry

‘‘Anything new under the sun’Anything new under the sun’- but then Bilski.- but then Bilski.


Now a range of Intellectual Property Rights Now a range of Intellectual Property Rights may need to be consideredmay need to be considered

Monopolies or Copy-RightsMonopolies or Copy-RightsCivil or CriminalCivil or Criminal

Main Registration RightsMain Registration Rights patents – registered trade marks – registered designspatents – registered trade marks – registered designs

Main Automatic RightsMain Automatic Rights copyright – trade secrets copyright – trade secrets

– – unfair competition – designsunfair competition – designs

Evolving Special RightsEvolving Special Rights database – ‘image’database – ‘image’

NOTE - different countries may have different lawsNOTE - different countries may have different laws

iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010

7

Patentability Exclusions (EPC)Patentability Exclusions (EPC)

The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions :

(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;

(b) aesthetic creations;

(c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers;

(d) presentations of information.


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Patent Refused – ‘game rules’Patent Refused – ‘game rules’ EP1406709A (2004) GameAccountGameAccount

Dice used for selecting move numbers - there may be a limited set of selectable numbers to add greater skill in deciding how to allocate moves.


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Patent Allowed – ‘technical feature’Patent Allowed – ‘technical feature’

Konami - EP0844580 (1996)Konami - EP0844580 (1996)


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Registered Trade MarksRegistered Trade Marks

Lara CroftLara Croft

Protected imageProtected image

BAR-X and OXOBAR-X and OXOTrade marks and functional signs.Trade marks and functional signs.

(licensed widely)(licensed widely)


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Registered DesignsRegistered Designs

Lara CroftLara Croft

Protected imageProtected image

Screen shotsScreen shots


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Emotiv DesignEmotiv Design


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Copyright – 70+ years (mostly)Copyright – 70+ years (mostly)

WorksWorks software, music, story board, screen art,software, music, story board, screen art,

literary, spin off characters, etcliterary, spin off characters, etc

CopyingCopying infringed only by copyinginfringed only by copying

InternationalInternational reciprocal rightsreciprocal rights

Dr Who’sAdipose


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EU Software Directive 1991EU Software Directive 1991

Programs are literary worksPrograms are literary works

Interoperable programsInteroperable programs

don’t infringedon’t infringe

Decompilation right Decompilation right


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Only ‘substantial part’ but no Only ‘substantial part’ but no copyright in ideascopyright in ideas

‘‘No look and feel’ No look and feel’

protectionprotection

Nova v MazoomaNova v Mazooma

And BFG - FollowingAnd BFG - Following

Navataire v EasyjetNavataire v Easyjet

20072007

No book plot protection:No book plot protection:

The Da Vinci Code,The Da Vinci Code,

But Harry Potter Lexicon,But Harry Potter Lexicon,

And Flanimals?And Flanimals?


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‘‘Program Format’Program Format’

Program format – difficult to protect – detail might be Program format – difficult to protect – detail might be copyright work, but not the concept – although might be copyright work, but not the concept – although might be unfair competition in some countriesunfair competition in some countries

Opportunity Knocks (1988 New Zealand case)Opportunity Knocks (1988 New Zealand case) – – no infringementno infringement

Big BrotherBig Brother(not an infringement(not an infringementin Dutch case – in Dutch case – infringed in Brazilinfringed in Brazilcase) 2002 - 2004case) 2002 - 2004


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Trade SecretsTrade Secrets

ConfidentialityConfidentiality non-disclosure agreementnon-disclosure agreement implied (Oasis collageimplied (Oasis collage – – covert press photo covert press photo

infringed confidentiality)infringed confidentiality)19971997

Breach remedyBreach remedy spring board damagesspring board damages


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Unfair CompetitionUnfair Competition

MisrepresentationMisrepresentation passing off, trade dresspassing off, trade dress

ReputationReputation established positionestablished position

is basis of protectionis basis of protection

Mexican Baja 1000 road raceTHQ sued Activision for copyright and trade dress infringement- settled 2008


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The Database RightThe Database Right

British Horseracing Board v William HillBritish Horseracing Board v William Hill ECJ - not enough skill and investment for protectionECJ - not enough skill and investment for protection

Mars v TeknowledgeMars v Teknowledge Database of coin parameters infringedDatabase of coin parameters infringed

- no right to repair- no right to repair


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Personality and PrivacyPersonality and Privacy

Human rights/confidentiality – Human rights/confidentiality – developing new rightsdeveloping new rights

Princess DianaPrincess Diana Hello! v OK! (Michael DouglasHello! v OK! (Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones)and Catherine Zeta Jones) Peggy Sue, Elvis, Marx Brothers (US)Peggy Sue, Elvis, Marx Brothers (US) Naomi CambellNaomi Cambell JK RowlingJK Rowling Nicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy Max MoseleyMax Moseley John TerryJohn Terry


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‘‘Image Rights’Image Rights’


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Special Rights?Special Rights?

Public offencePublic offence

Resistance: Fall of Man(Manchester Cathedral)

LittleBigPlanet(Islam)

Hanuman: Boy Warrior(Hindu)

Egypt(Pyramids)

Bangladesh/India (Taj Mahal)


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The Future The Future

On-line play and payOn-line play and pay Electronic Arts - BattlefieldElectronic Arts - Battlefield

New platformsNew platforms mobile phonemobile phone

Gaming and gamblingGaming and gambling off shoreoff shore

HapticsHaptics Wii – ultrasonics – thoughtsWii – ultrasonics – thoughts


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Virtual IPRVirtual IPR

Second Life - virtual infringementSecond Life - virtual infringement


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The EndThe End

Documents

IPC 2 © Barry Quest 2010 1 Basics of Intellectual Property Establishing a Balanced IP Portfolio for Games and Games-Related Products Establishing a Balanced