Build, License, and Litigate - A Game of Patent Strategy

Abstract

A patent strategy game includes a plurality of industrial sector spaces defined by one or more technology sector spaces comprising one or two industrial sector spaces. A plurality of product markers are placed on technology spaces during play of the game. Intellectual property markers obtained on predetermined conditions are placed on the technology spaces to create intellectual property rights on the technology spaces. A resolution mechanism is provided for resolving intellectual property right disputes between players arising from a movement of product markers into a technology space having intellectual property rights of another player. The player at the end of the game whose market value from all product markers and intellectual property markers on the game board is the greatest is the winner. The methods of the disclosure may be implemented as a game board or as a patent game over a network to a remote subscriber computer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for a game of patents comprising the steps of:
 providing a patent game application on a game board, the patent game application configuring the game board to define one or more industrial sector spaces comprising one or more technology spaces defining a world economy and to define a plurality of market gateways, each market gateway providing a link between at least two industrial sector spaces;   receiving game rules at a first gamer, the first gamer further storing first gamer preferences for strategies for applying the game rules, wherein the first gamer: filters the game rules by comparing the game rules to the first gamer strategy preferences;   generate a product marker move from the filtered game rules that contains a destination location on the game board that is either (i) a location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to an adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to a second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   transmit the generated product marker move to a product marker associated with the first gamer;   wherein the generated product move configures the product marker to move on a predetermined path along the game board to the destination location of either (i) the location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   wherein, the generated product move enables a dispute resolution between the first gamer and a second gamer concerning rights of the second gamer in the destination location of the first gamer when the destination location of the first gamer contains a product marker of the second gamer; and   wherein, the first gamer and the second gamer collect, aggregate, and correlate a database of IP assets in an IP Asset Tracking Card for use in the dispute resolution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 providing a patent game application to a subscriber for installation on the remote subscriber computer, the patent game application configuring the remote subscriber computer to collect, aggregate, and correlate the database of IP assets in the IP Asset Tracking Card; 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card indicates the existence of Technology Space held by the first gamer or the second gamer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card indicates the existence of a patent, trademark, copyright, and license assets on a Technology Space as these assets are added to or removed during play of the patent game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card tracks the number of turns for use in determining when a trademark or a copyright triggers the award of an additional product marker. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card tracks the award of a product marker for a trademark 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card tracks negotiated license arrangements. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card tracks if a patent was granted after an opposition which makes it harder for the patent to be invalidated. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the IP Asset Tracking Card tracks a license that has been negotiated for a specified number of turns. 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing a patent game over a network to a remote subscriber computer, the method comprising:
 providing a patent game application to a subscriber for installation on the remote subscriber computer, the patent game application configuring the remote subscriber computer to define one or more industrial sector spaces comprising one or more technology spaces defining a world economy and to define a plurality of market gateways, each market gateway providing a link between at least two industrial sector spaces; the patent game application further configuring the remote subscriber computer to collect, aggregate, and correlate a database of IP assets in an IP Asset Tracking Card;   receiving game rules at a first gamer, the first gamer further storing first gamer preferences for strategies for applying the game rules, wherein the first gamer: filters the game rules by comparing the game rules to the first gamer strategy preferences;   generate a product marker move from the filtered game rules that contains a destination location on the game board that is either (i) a location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to an adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to a second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   transmit the generated product marker move to a product marker associated with the first gamer,   wherein the generated product move configures the product marker to move on a predetermined path along the game board to the destination location of either (i) the location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   wherein, the generated product move enables a dispute resolution between the first gamer and a second gamer concerning rights of the second gamer in the destination location of the first gamer when the destination location of the first gamer contains a product marker of the second gamer; and   wherein, the first gamer and the second gamer utilize the collected, aggregated, and correlated database of IP assets in the IP Asset Tracking Card in the dispute resolution.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a patent game over a network to a remote subscriber computer, the method comprising:
 providing a patent game application to a subscriber for installation on the remote subscriber computer, the patent game application configuring the remote subscriber computer to communicate with a network computing device configured to render on a display of a patent game board defining one or more industrial sector spaces comprising one or more technology spaces defining a world economy and to define a plurality of market gateways, each market gateway providing a link between at least two industrial sector spaces;   receiving game rules at a first gamer, the first gamer further storing first gamer preferences for strategies for applying the game rules, wherein the first gamer: filters the game rules by comparing the game rules to the first gamer strategy preferences;   generate a product marker move from the filtered game rules that contains a destination location on the game board that is either (i) a location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to an adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) a change in location from a first one or more technology space to a second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   transmit the generated product marker move from the remote subscriber computer to a product marker associated with the first gamer;   render the transmitted product marker move on the display of a patent game board;   wherein the generated product move configures the product marker to move on a predetermined path along the game board on the display of a patent game board to the destination location of either (i) the location on a technology space on the game board for placement of an initial set of product markers, (ii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the adjacent second technology space location on the game board, or (iii) the change in location from the first one or more technology space to the second technology space location on the game board connected to the first one or more technology space by a gateway for movement of one or more product markers already on the first one or more technology space on the game board to the second technology space location on the game board across the gateway connecting the first and second technology space;   wherein, the generated product move enables a dispute resolution between the first gamer and a second gamer concerning rights of the second gamer in the destination location of the first gamer when the destination location of the first gamer contains a product marker of the second gamer; and   wherein, the first gamer and the second gamer collect, aggregate, and correlate a database of IP assets in an IP Asset Tracking Card for use in the dispute resolution.   
     
     
         12 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the intellectual property is a patent. 
     
     
         13 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute is a patent infringement and the patent holder prevails in the dispute with a generated number that is greater than the number of the other player. 
     
     
         14 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute is a patent validity and a player prevails against the patent holder in the dispute with a generated number that is at least two greater than the number of the other player. 
     
     
         15 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute is triggered before or after actual movement of product markers of one player into the technology space of the patent holder. 
     
     
         16 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute is triggered at the election of the patent holder. 
     
     
         17 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute is triggered by an assertion of a patent in a technology space against product markers held by another player in the industrial sector of the asserted patent. 
     
     
         18 . The board game of  claim 17  wherein the patent holder prevails in the dispute with a generated number that is two greater than the number of the other player. 
     
     
         19 . The board game of  claim 11  wherein the dispute resolution is resolved by agreement between parties having an interest in the intellectual property right. 
     
     
         20 . The board game of  claim 19  wherein the agreement involves a license or a cross-license.