Mechanics are not protected by U.S. copyright. A specific description of those mechanics (aka "text of the rules") is.
Monopoly is a TradeMark and Bonopoly is (I bet a jury will agree) confusingly similar.
The line is, if you get the attention of someone big (or big headed) they will sue and or threaten to sue. Even if you are legally in the right it will probably not be in your financial interests to defend yourself.
So,
- Don't be a dick.
- Do not use any names, art, design from the original.
- Don't do this for profit. It will never be profitable.
- Make your electronic version, but be prepared to dump it when you get cease and desist order.
I can appreciate that. The question wasn't intended to be, "What game can I rip onto Android?" as much as it was, "If I make a game, how certain do I have to be that the mechanics don't exist already?"
Obviously, if I use a different name, artwork, and rule set there isn't really a problem.
I'd say the same apply as for any other business. If something already exists then they could sue you to stop distributing your game and/or pay for royalties. So before starting the full development you should make sure that your version of the game is not a copy of an existing one. And changing one minor rule (going to both sides) or replacing terms like "hotel" becoming "skyscrappers" will look like complete copy.
Comments
Mechanics are not protected by U.S. copyright. A specific description of those mechanics (aka "text of the rules") is.
Monopoly is a TradeMark and Bonopoly is (I bet a jury will agree) confusingly similar.
The line is, if you get the attention of someone big (or big headed) they will sue and or threaten to sue. Even if you are legally in the right it will probably not be in your financial interests to defend yourself.
So, - Don't be a dick. - Do not use any names, art, design from the original. - Don't do this for profit. It will never be profitable. - Make your electronic version, but be prepared to dump it when you get cease and desist order.
I can appreciate that. The question wasn't intended to be, "What game can I rip onto Android?" as much as it was, "If I make a game, how certain do I have to be that the mechanics don't exist already?"
Obviously, if I use a different name, artwork, and rule set there isn't really a problem.
I'd say the same apply as for any other business. If something already exists then they could sue you to stop distributing your game and/or pay for royalties. So before starting the full development you should make sure that your version of the game is not a copy of an existing one. And changing one minor rule (going to both sides) or replacing terms like "hotel" becoming "skyscrappers" will look like complete copy.