Do I need to copyright my card game?

Registering the card game with the U.S. Copyright Office is not mandatory but can provide some additional advantages: Access to U.S. federal courts if you are suing infringers. The right to receive automatic damages and reimbursement of your attorneys’ fees if you win your case.

Can you copyright rules to a game?

In the context of games, § 102(b) means that rules, game mechanics, and any other functional elements—in addition to the overall idea—of a game are not copyrightable. Copyright does not protect the idea for game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it.

Are Trading cards copyright?

Besides copyright, cards can be protected by a number of trademark-related claims such as trade dress, false designation of origin and player likeness. This is important because while copyrights have a limited life, trademarks do not. Basically, as long as a trademark is used in commerce, it’s alive.

Is MTG copyrighted?

MTG cards are likely protected by both trademarks and copyrights. WotC has trademark registration on several words, phrases, and symbols on MTG cards, including all of the mana symbols. To be tournament legal, altered cards often must leave some trademarks visible on the card.

How do I copyright my games?

How To Copyright a Video Game Online

1. Go to the U.S. Copyright Office website.
2. Select Register.
3. Go to the appropriate section—depending on what you want to register.
4. Click on Register.
5. Create an account with the U.S. Copyright Office or Log in to your existing one.
6. Choose Copyright Registration.
7. Pick Register a New Claim.

What parts of MTG are copyrighted?

The other fonts, the frames, the art, the back of the card, the symbols, etc are all copyrighted.

Can you copyright a magic deck?

The claim for copyright in a Magic: The Gathering deck arises as a “compilation work.” That is, since each card is a copyrightable artistic work, the selection of the cards together is also a copyrightable artistic work.