Java Monopoly Adaption

[Lordpomeroy]

Hey guys,
I am working on an adaption of the well known board game Monopoly since I haven't found a good one.
In the current state you can only play with 2-6 human players at the same computer but I am working on the AI and an online mode will probably be available, too.
Here is the game how it looks like at the moment:


Edit:
Removed the download link as I am not shure about the patent rights.

[Danny02]

beware not to get sued^^

[Lordpomeroy]

Thanks for that remark. I haven't thought about that carefully.
Hence I will not offer the download anymore until I know more about the rights.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[sproingie]

Rules of a game are not subject to copyright protection in American copyright law.  However, the various names and layout of the board are trademarked.  Change the names and Hasbro is not likely to care.

[Cero]

there is just something about a boardgame involving mortgage that makes yawn

[jonjava]

Rules of a game are not subject to copyright protection in American copyright law.  However, the various names and layout of the board are trademarked.  Change the names and Hasbro is not likely to care.

Either way they're more than likely to not care, at all.

[Sammidysam]

Rules of a game are not subject to copyright protection in American copyright law.  However, the various names and layout of the board are trademarked.  Change the names and Hasbro is not likely to care.

Either way they're more than likely to not care, at all.

I am pretty sure they would only care if you sold the game and made some money.  Then they would only care because they would want their share of the money.

[Lordpomeroy]

I know that they possibly don't care but if they do it's quite expensive for me.

[jonjava]

I know that they possibly don't care but if they do it's quite expensive for me.

Copyright isn't a trivial thing but that's like preparing yourself for the 2020 return of Jesus to defeat the unholy Trinity of the Antichrist, Satan and False prophet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dates_predicted_for_apocalyptic_events

[sproingie]

You go around calling it Monopoly, and you probably will get a C&D or a takedown.  May as well save yourself the hassle.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[concerto49]

You go around calling it Monopoly, and you probably will get a C&D or a takedown.  May as well save yourself the hassle.

This and the look and feel, exact games rules, etc... it ain't going to work.

[Alan_W]

I'd take a look here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_board_game_Monopoly#Legal_status

There's more here

http://www.examiner.com/article/1979-monopoly-trademark-infringement-ruling-led-to-today-s-cache-of-look-alikes

Looks like you can't use the name 'monopoly' as it remains a trademark, nor can you use any of the board and card specific designs as they are copyright.  It looks like you can use the same rules, but not by copying the boxed game's rules, as those are also protected by copyright.
(It this point I'll point out that I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice).

Also this (although it looks like he mucked up in court)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghettopoly

[Sammidysam]

The thing in Ghettopoly is that he made money off of it.  I highly doubt Hasbro would sue someone making a clone of their game for fun, if anything it's free marketing.  Wouldn't they just tell you to remove the download link before suing anyway?

[Lordpomeroy]

The thing in Ghettopoly is that he made money off of it.  I highly doubt Hasbro would sue someone making a clone of their game for fun, if anything it's free marketing.  Wouldn't they just tell you to remove the download link before suing anyway?

I think they probably would do that first. But I once had a very bad experience with all this law stuff. So I am very careful now. I think I will collect some more information and change the game as far as needed to be safe.

[Cero]

A cease & desist letter is not that bad: its basically "please stop", and you're like "fine" - the end.

worse cases are rare - should only happen if there is actually some more money involved, in the sense that you profit from the game without their license n stuff