Want To Patent A Board Game: Here’s What You Need To Know

Board games are an integral part of our childhood memories. Whether it’s the classic Monopoly or Scrabble, we’ve all grown up playing board games and have a bunch of memories related to it. It would come as a surprise to many of you that board games are patentable. While you may have noticed the small copyright mark on it, you may not know that a particular game is patented.

The patent law names processes as a patentable subject and board games are a method or a process of going through repeatable steps predetermined by a set of rules. It also serves a purpose, which could be entertainment, education, or some other motive of the game. And, thus, it is a patentable subject matter.

If you’ve invented a board game, then you will want to ensure your idea stays protected. While it is always beneficial to consult patent lawyers or agents, here are a few tips to get you started in this first-to-file system:

Put Together an Explanatory Title

Yes, your invention is a board game. But, mentioning just that won’t help the examiner at the patent office, and your application will be rejected. Millions of patent titles use the term ‘Board Game’. You need to come up with a list of words that explain the concept of your invention. What does your board game do? Does it entertain? Does it promote concentration? Whatever it does, explain the same in less than eight words. A patent titled ‘A board game relating to stress’ and another titled ‘construction board game with chance device’ are examples that convey the context of the board game.

Describe Unique Features and Provide Alternatives

Today, most products and systems are innovations over existing inventions. If your invention is an innovation over an existing game, then it can make it difficult to describe your invention in a way to portray it as a patentable subject. The best way to go about it is describing what currently exists and then moving on to explaining what makes your game unique from the existing invention. Uniqueness is a prerequisite for an invention to be patentable. Articulate your invention in a way that it is deemed to be unique enough to obtain a patent. Remember to write this description in detail. In addition to this, provide alternative methods of playing the game. If you do not secure the alternatives, then you leave innovative possibilities open for others to create and patent.

Provide a Visual Description

Although you may describe your invention accurately in words, covering every aspect of your invention raises your chance of obtaining a patent. While drawings are not mandatory, your application will likely be incomplete without drawings. A detailed drawing with a description makes the task of understanding your game easier for the examiner and also increases your chance of securing protection. Show each feature in enough detail. Place key features with an enlarged figure to show more detail. Make sure to number each figure and add a reference number for each element of the drawing.

For a board game to be patented, it must be novel, inventive, and non-obvious. While the process of patenting remains the same, you need to put in efforts to secure it. It is highly recommended to consult patent lawyer or agents to increase your chance of obtaining a patent.