Here we go again: patents and gaming

[YoshiM]

See Slashdot (http://games.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=151312&threshold=1&commentsort=0&tid=98&tid=155&tid=10&mode=thread&pid=12693061#12693152) for the info and link to the article.

Here's the actual site (http://www.patentarcade.com/) they talk about.

Makes my blood run cold.

Thoughts?

[CartCollector]

I'm OK with having development kits, the parts inside consoles, or controllers patented, but games? No. A game is a creative work. If games get patented, what's next? Movies? Books?

[thegreatescape]

Sounds like lawyers trying to make (more) money for lawyers.

[TheRedEye]

You linked us to the discussion, here's the actual Slashdot link: http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/06/01/126228&tid=98

[mezrabad]

This is taken from the Slashdot link provided to the US Patent Office Site:

Here is the link:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6604008.WKU.&OS=PN/6604008&RS=PN/6604008



Scoring based upon goals achieved and subjective elements

Abstract
A scoring method and system for determining points in a game. Goal-based points are determined as a function of a player achieving a goal set by the player that is not predefined by the game and are used to determine the player's status in the game, such as whether the player advances to a next level. Subjective style points are awarded if the player performs feats of style that are not necessary tasks of the game, depend upon the type of game, and may include sliding, spinning, jumping, blocking an opponent, passing an opponent, and avoiding obstacles. Objective skill points may be combined with subjective style points and goal-based points. Alternatively, one of these three types of points may be modified as a function of one or both of the other two types of points.


WTF? They develop a way of assigning points and now anyone who comes up with a similar way of assigning points can get sued if they don't ante up a licensing fee?

There's something about the real world which sucks and I don't know if it is because people get away with this or the fact that they actually want to get away with it.

[goatdan]

All that they have to do is prove that the game is different enough to not be confused with another game. Wasn't this already debated and proved with Street Fighter II vs. some other 2D fighting game?

[mezrabad]

All that they have to do is prove that the game is different enough to not be confused with another game. Wasn't this already debated and proved with Street Fighter II vs. some other 2D fighting game?

There are people here who know more about this than I do, but if I'm not mistaken I believe that what you are refering to (Capcom vs. Data East) was a copyright issue and not patent related.

The patent listed above, to me, would be like someone having a patent on a scoring system "by which shooting a moving sprite on the screen with a movable cannon, also on screen, allows the player to gain 'points' which increases their score and allows for a comparison with the progress of other players" So, any game that came out where you had to shoot things on the screen and it added to your score would be a violation of that "patent".

I'm not a lawyer, and I honestly don't know a lot about patents, I just know that they're different from copyrights which are different from trademarks.

[YoshiM]

Mezrabad, you're pretty much on the right track about patents.

Go here (http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/en/m/basics/whatis.html) to learn about patents.

Explore the rest of that site. It may be a bit on the extreme side but it has enough solid info to come up with why software patents are bad.

[neuropolitique]

I have a patent on a method and system for making game related posts on the internet. Posts are made as a function of a user exhibiting knowledge a games and related paraphinalia.

From here on out I will be exacting a 1 meseta licensing fee on all posts. It is your responsibility to pay your fees. Any fees not paid will result in heavy fines. Thank you for your cooperation.

[Wavelflack]

I have a patent on that fee structure and the concept of "fines".

You may sublicense if you wish.

[neuropolitique]

1/2 meseta per fee collected, half of all fines. We can go 50/50. That'll still be adequate compensation for my hard work and IP.