Following USPTO’s approval of WB Games’ patent application for the Nemesis System, the publisher drew criticism from fellow professionals, pointing out that many of WB’s games are based on borrowed ideas and mechanics.
“It’s very rough, especially for a franchise that has built its brilliant Nemesis system on top of a whole bunch of mechanics like of all games, like all games do,” he writes. Thomas was alone developer, Mike Bithell. ‘Because that’s how culture and creativity work. Be a better neighbor, WB. ”
Cat Manning of Riot Games has expressed concern about the broad language used in the patent, which would make things difficult for other studios, especially indie developers who do not have the money to fight lawsuits.
“Hey, this f ****** is struggling,” Manning wrote. ‘I looked at the patent and it’s so wide it’s absurd! Several other emerging narrative systems I have already seen and worked on can be described with their language! It probably wouldn’t be legally enforceable, but me and other indie players don’t have the money to find out! ‘
Manning added that the patent could hamper creativity and innovation because it is broad enough that it could ultimately be a license to prevent ANY similar work from being developed. ‘
Patents of game mechanics are nothing new. As people from Video Games Chronicle have noticed, publishers like Bandai Namco, Electronic Arts, Sega, and Microsoft have patented ideas in the past. However, not all patents have resulted in litigation.
Whether WB Games intends to enforce its patent remains to be seen.
[Source: VGC]