Hello
You always read about the big patent fights between software/hardware companies like Apple and Samsung. But what about patents in the games industry? What are you able to actually take a patent on here? And if your about to create a hopefully commercially successfull game, could other companies patent actually be a problem? I live in Europe and if im not misstaken its illegal to patent software here, while as in the states its legal.
Also, is there any good threads or articles on this?
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Patents in the games industry?
Started by Astr0, Sep 18 2012 02:28 PM
4 replies to this topic
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#2 Moderators - Reputation: 5072
Posted 18 September 2012 - 05:28 PM
if your about to create a hopefully commercially successfull game, could other companies patent actually be a problem?
Yes, definitely. I don't have any links for you offhand, but it should be easy to google and find a bunch of articles.
-- Tom Sloper
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Sloperama Productions
Making games fun and getting them done.
www.sloperama.com
Please do not PM me. My email address is easy to find, but note that I do not give private advice.
#3 GDNet+ - Reputation: 5614
Posted 18 September 2012 - 06:29 PM
One popular example is Carmack's Reverse. So yeah, patent issues could be problematic.
[ I was ninja'd 71 times before I stopped counting a long time ago ] [ f.k.a. MikeTacular ] [ My Blog ] [ SWFer: Gaplessly looped MP3s in your Flash games ]
#4 Moderators - Reputation: 14305
Posted 18 September 2012 - 07:49 PM
Here's another article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1735/the_ten_most_important_video_game_.php
Patents are controversial in games -- it's generally very bad press to be caught trying to shut down your competitors with lawsuits.
off topic --
I read over Creative Labs patent on "Carmack's reverse" recently, and IANAL, but I found that it's claims were very narrow and easily avoided. e.g. by changing the direction of your z-test, or the order of rendering, you can still do "Carmack's reverse"-style "z-fail" stencil shadows, but in a way that's not covered by the patent's claims.
Patents are controversial in games -- it's generally very bad press to be caught trying to shut down your competitors with lawsuits.
off topic --
I read over Creative Labs patent on "Carmack's reverse" recently, and IANAL, but I found that it's claims were very narrow and easily avoided. e.g. by changing the direction of your z-test, or the order of rendering, you can still do "Carmack's reverse"-style "z-fail" stencil shadows, but in a way that's not covered by the patent's claims.
#5 GDNet+ - Reputation: 1179
Posted 19 September 2012 - 06:14 AM
My favourite game patent is that sega owns the patent of having a floating arrow in a driving game. Which the created as part of a forgettable late 90's game called crazy taxi and from what I've read they have rigorously enforced their ownership of this patent. So next you play a driving game and wished there was a floating arrow pointing you in the right direction you can blame sega.
Which is also the problem with game patents in that developers and designers are more than capable of finding alternatives solutions rather then paying to licence the patent.
Which is also the problem with game patents in that developers and designers are more than capable of finding alternatives solutions rather then paying to licence the patent.
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