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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 2
Game are valuable productsGame are valuable products
Games are worth protectingGames are worth protecting
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 3
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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 4
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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 5
--- 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.
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010 6
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
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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.
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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.
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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Patent Allowed – ‘technical feature’Patent Allowed – ‘technical feature’
Konami - EP0844580 (1996)Konami - EP0844580 (1996)
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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)
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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Registered DesignsRegistered Designs
Lara CroftLara Croft
Protected imageProtected image
Screen shotsScreen shots
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
12
Emotiv DesignEmotiv Design
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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?
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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‘‘Image Rights’Image Rights’
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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)
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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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
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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Virtual IPRVirtual IPR
Second Life - virtual infringementSecond Life - virtual infringement
iPC2 © Barry Quest 2010
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The EndThe End