I was just wondering if it's legal to make and distribute an Othello game. Anyone know? mike http://www.coolgroups.com/

IANAL, but I believe it's ok as long as you don't call it Othello.

From the bible:

Quote:
Mattel produces Reversi equipment under the name "Othello". Anjar Co licenses the registered trademark "Othello" from Tsukuda Original.

So my guess is that you can't use the name. As for the game itself, I am not sure.

Quote:
The game derives from two different sources.
In the 19th century unknown authors in Europe invented "Reversi", which the well-known German games publisher Ravensburger started producing in 1898 as one of its first titles.
The modern rule set, now universally accepted (except by those who know only the still-produced Ravensburger edition) originated in Japan as "Othello" in the 1970s.

What if I call it Reversi? Is that a generic name for Othello?

mike
http://www.coolgroups.com/

It seems that Reversi is public domain, but is not completely identical to Othello. From here:

Quote:
Reversi differs from Othello in two respects. In Reversi, the board starts empty, and in each of the first two turns each player plays a stone of his own colour in one of the centre four squares. In Othello, this is done for you, eliminating one of the starting configurations of Reversi.

I'm not sure if that's what people consider Reversi today. I just downloaded a game called Daisy Reversi, and it has the four pieces in the center. It says:

The rules of Reversi are fairly simple but lead to a great many combinations and strategic decisions.

The game always begins on an empty game board with four pieces in the center square, as shown in the following figure:


mike
http://www.coolgroups.com/

Hmm, I am not so sure Reversi is free either. I found this on the U.S. Copyright Office website:

Quote:
1. Registration Number: TX-1-464-643
Title: Reversi game for 2 players, ages 8 to adult.
Description: Kit.
Claimant: acWestern Publishing Company, Inc.
Created: 1984
Published: 14May84
Registered: 30Oct84
Title on © Application: Reversi game: no. 4886.
Special Codes: 5/S