I don’t believe those indie developers have any patents.
Comment on Palworld confirms ‘disappointing’ game changes forced by Pokémon lawsuit
I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago2 years seems like a nightmare for indie developers. Do you want a bunch of AI Chinese cash grabs pushing things out like Hollow Knight 2: Microtransaction Edition or Stardew Valley Romance Sims? Because without IP protection, indie developers will get creamed.
jsomae@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
aesthelete@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I don’t remember all of the differences, but I think you’re conflating copyright, patent, and trademark here. Software patents should almost be not a thing, but copyright and trademark should still exist.
Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Copyright if elements of the game such as 3D models, images and code have been copied.
Trademark if the name of the game is used (i.e. “Stardew Valley Romance Sims”).
Patents for game mechanics.
As a side note, personally I think that game mechanics shouldn’t be at all patentable
9bananas@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
in most countries, afaik, you actually can’t patent game mechanics, for the same reason you can’t patent rule sets for boardgames:
because they are essentially just logical connections. it would be like patenting math, which is also not allowed, for very obvious reasons. (with some very specific, very niche exceptions)
japan is just plain weird and wrong about their patent system.
that’s why all of the lawsuits about this stuff are happening in japan; not just because that’s where the companies are, but because japanese copyright law is (especially) fucked.