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A set of rules for a game is more than an idea once it gets published.
It's literary work. If that argument were valid, all computer programs won't enjoy any copyright protection because they are basically sets of rules to be followed by computer (whereas game rules are followed by human players), and one can argue all cookbooks (well, those without any pictures) should not be copyrighted because they are a bunch of sets of rules. You yourself think that information card printed with game instructions can be copyrighted. If someone reprints (on paper/on video/on audio/on the Internet..does't matter where or how) those rules, paraphrased or not, they are violating the copyright. So unless the said game can be distributed without any mention of rules, it will be violating the copyright.

Besides, it's not just game rules, copyright can also extend to graphical works like the layout of the board, arrangement and appearance of pieces, etc.
Posted by: jk0726   Posted on: 07/26/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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WHAT???  Henaway | 07/25/08
Why waste money when it was just a nuisance??  wackoae | 07/25/08
Not an exact copy at all  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/25/08
Not a copy? Are you nuts?  JamesAHall | 07/25/08
Of course it's a knock-off, but it's not an exact copy  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/25/08
That's not true  JamesAHall | 07/29/08
Copyright law doesn't apply to ideas  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/29/08
Nope  dcmtr | 07/31/08
Scrabble has been around...  AtomicFusion | 07/25/08
Copyrights Are Renewable  Mark.Eichman | 07/26/08
That's not true  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/29/08
What the US Copyright Office Says  jlafitte | 08/07/08
No..  Etch44 | 08/07/08
Copyright doesn't apply - Hasbro has no case, bro  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/25/08
Copyright  kohathi | 07/25/08
14 years with optional 14-year renewal...  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/25/08
renewal is a wonderful thing  Socoling | 07/25/08
Read up on copyright history  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/29/08
assignation....  Socoling | 07/25/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  qwerty690 | 07/25/08
You can't copyright ideas.  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/25/08
A set of rules for a game is more than an idea once it gets published.  jk0726 | 07/26/08
No. Copyright covers wording, not ideas  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/29/08
confusing copyright, patent, and trademark  josephmartins | 08/07/08
Nope  fadzlan@... | 07/30/08
ah but lotus 123 was not the original spreadsheet  mombo | 08/07/08
Lotus 123???  The Smoking Man | 08/07/08
You're thinking of VisiCalc....  jlafitte | 08/07/08
two bites of the apple...  jlafitte | 08/07/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  Terrygirl | 07/25/08
the bottom line is.....  djd221 | 07/25/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  bill4935 | 07/25/08
And Yet...  Mark.Eichman | 07/26/08
Copyright needs to be protected by the owner  mombo | 08/07/08
Patent the Alphabet  ashworth102680 | 07/25/08
the alphabet was public domain  mombo | 08/07/08
So are words ...  The Smoking Man | 08/07/08
Next, the little geniuses can "invent" these Facebook games  Tech99_z | 07/25/08
Presentation on Copyright - Lawrence Lessig  jkantony | 07/26/08
Re: Presentation on Copyright - Lawrence Lessig  hitech_rednek | 08/07/08
70 years is too long  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/26/08
Agreed 100%  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/29/08
Disney ...  The Smoking Man | 08/07/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  saxmanb | 07/26/08
Why are performances "copyrighted"?  kohathi | 07/27/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  saxmanb | 07/27/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  Panda129 | 07/29/08
I agree, Hasbro has no case  rahullak@... | 07/29/08
that's where trademark comes in  merc2dogs` | 08/08/08
Not Copyright, but maybe Trademark breach  dhruva15 | 07/30/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  CBR1000F | 08/01/08
Just plain thievery  verelse | 08/04/08
Don't be Dumb  ericvorheese | 08/04/08
Don't be Dumber...  pmcm | 08/07/08
On Copyright and the Other Thing  tzenes | 08/04/08
Screw the customer  wystan1000 | 08/05/08
Evil Giant Coporate Copyrights  Draven35 | 08/07/08
Typically Insane Case  madrucke@... | 08/07/08
... and the winner will be ...  oldbaritone | 08/07/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  SphinxRising58 | 08/07/08
Well Said.  Dauplat | 08/07/08
RE: Scrabble-Scrabulous standoff spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T  The Smoking Man | 08/07/08

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