Защита на масмедийни продукти??

[Ivan G.]

На каква правна защита подлежат масмедийните продукти, в частност телевизионни и радио игри?
С други думи създавам телевизионна игра - къде и как трябва да я регистрирам, за да не ми я откраднат, като я предложа за реализация в някоя продуцентска фирма или телевизия?

[Gosho]

най-общо пред Патентното ведомство... Отидете там разпитайте, правете се на неразбиращ, ако ви обяснят всичко и го разберете - чудесно! Все пак специализирана помощ от специалист по индустриална собственост е почти неизбежна във вашия случай. Все пак, ако сте решили сам да преборите бюрокрацията - в никакъв случай не отивайте в продуцентските къщи преди да сте получили защита (чрез патент или полезен модел, или интегрална схема - вие знаете по-добре)

успех

[Ivan G.]

Досега ме убеждаваха, че Патентното ведомство няма да ми свърши работа в случая, но аз ще опитам - най-малкото ще ме пренасочат към съответната институция.
Благодаря за информацията.

[еla]

На мен също ми е интересен този казус, но относно авторска защита на "лога" (картинки за телефон). Да, ако е 1 или 2 - добре, ще ги защитя в Патентно ведомство, но ако са 100 - какво трябва да направя - а таксите не са малки!!!

[Ivan G.]

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1.Can a TV Gaming Show be patented if it is unique?

Probably not. In general, 35 U.S.C. 101 stated what is patentable subject matter: "Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title."

There have been some extensions to this is case law, for example, software patents and business method patents, but a game would be highly unlikely to meet the statutory requirements for patentability. The problem is a game doesn't really "do" anything -- it's entertainment, sure, but that's it -- patents are generally limited to inventions that "do" something. I know that probably sounds esoteric, but it's really a fundamental difference. However, I don't know anything about your game -- I guess it is possible that it does something unique and would therefore be patentable subject matter.

However, you can always use copyright to protect creative works, which is where a game would most likely fall.

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2.Can the same Online/web version of it patented?

See above. Look to copyright for protection for now, trademark if you actually start to sell the game. http://www.copyright.gov.

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3.With in how many days it takes for getting provisional patent and what are its limitations?

Well, since you can't probably can't patent a game, this is really irrelevant. However, for the record, a provisional patent is an "automatic" grant -- basically, the provisional exists as soon as it is received by the USPTO (or as soon as it is mailed in some cases), as long as it meets the minimal formalities required.

However, a provisional patent provides no protections on its own -- you can't "enforce" a provisional patent. The ONLY value to a provisional patent is, if you convert the provisional patent to a nonprovisional patent within a year of filing the provisional patent, then the nonprovisional application can use the date of filing of the provisional as its "priority date." Basically, a provisional is used to nail down a date, then you can take your time preparing the nonprovisional application and not have to worry about someone filing before you (or worry less, at least).

If a provisional patent is not converted to a nonprovisional within a year, then the provisional goes abandoned.

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4.If some one has already a similar patent but the usage,application and process completely different can it be patented?

That is a question that is completly dependent on a number of things -- what your invention does, what the patent spec says, what the patent claims say, whether or not the patent claims have been broadened or narrowed during the prosecution of the patent, etc. You would need to talk with a patent attorney or agent who can review ALL of the facts in order to get an opinion on the patentability on an invention, especially in light of prior art.

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hi thanks for your immediate reply but does it mean that games like " who want to be a millionare or american idols and all not patented?

Yes.

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if so how do they prevent others from copying the concept?

Copyright and/or trademark.

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in case of web we have a software and program for gaming in such case what will be the best way to protect it?

The "best way" is something you'll need to sit down with your lawyer and discuss, because the "best way" will depend on ALL of the relevant facts and an in-depth understanding of your business model and the competitive market.

However -- as a general rule, software (and websites) are protected under copyright law. Some software can be patented, but it needs to provide some sort of "new" functionality -- so what software can be patented is usually a pretty limited subset of the software out there. When you also consider the cost of getting a patent and the 2-4 year time lag, generally patents are not the method of choice for protecting most software.

Copyright is usually the way to go. You may want to spend a few bucks talking with a local attorney who can review all of the facts of your paricular situation. You can also peruse http://www.copyright.gov to get some further info on copyrights and registration.

[еla]

От първото изречение предизвиква интерес, но в момента нямам възможност да го погледна. Може би утре ще ви отговоря ;((

[Ivan G.]

?