Patents

GameCatalog.org includes information on nearly 250 U.S. game patents.

U.S. Patents are categorized using a classification scheme. In 2013, the U.S. adopted the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system as its primary taxonomy for classifying patents. Prior to that time, the U.S. used the U.S. Patent Classification system.

In the CPC system, games are generally classified under the following major class of utility patents:

• Class A63F: Card, Board, or Roulette Games; Indoor Games Using Small Moving Bodies; Video Games; Games not otherwise provided for

In the prior U.S. Classification scheme, games are generally classified under the following major classes of utility patents:

• Class 273:  Amusement Devices: Games (manual)
• Class 463:  Amusement Devices: Games (electronic)
• Class 473:  Games Using Tangible Projectile (including Billiards & Pool, Bowling, Golf, Croquet, Hopscotch, etc.)

The U.S. also issues design patents to protect the unique appearance of an item. Design patent numbers start with a “D”. Older design patent numbers that did not start with a “D” should have a “D” prepended to them. When searching for a design patent number, e.g., at the USPTO website, it’s best to add zeros between the “D” and the number so there are 6 digits in the design patent number. Games generally fall within the following design patent class:

• Class D21: Games, Toys, and Sports Goods

Games may also be found in other classes and subclasses, or cross-indexed with multiple classifications.