Will I get in legal trouble if I name my new board game a that has already been used for another type of game?

Question

I have a specific idea for a title for my new boardgame but there is already an online text-adventure game called the same thing. I don't know practically anything about copyrights. Would my name for it be acceptable by law?

Answer 1

Yes, you'd get in trouble if successful.

Answer 2

This is a question for the legal department. Realistically if you are looking at making money you really need to check with the right people and not putting up a question in Yahoo Answers. If you are not making money then how the heck are the original creators of a text based adventure game (gosh they must be nearly dead of old age by now) going to find out about your board game nor care that you used the name of their game. If it gets to the point where money is going to be made and you may get in trouble with naming just pick a new name.

Answer 3

Generally speaking, you can't name a product of one genre with the same name as a different product in the same genre. So, the short answer is no, you can't name your game the same as another game, especially if that other game name is TradeMarked or copyrighted.

Answer 4

Yes you may get into legal trouble by doing that. But why don't you just get a new name?

Answer 5

i think you may get in legal trouble if your game will b sold in stores. the game names are protected by copy righted and trademark laws

Answer 6

You can't but you could use a play on words though.. or get permission by the other manufactor, who knows they may even market it for you

Answer 7

yes if you get permission from the creater of the online game or if the name isn't copywrited Then, they can't sue you.

Answer 8

i think you should check your local police department cause whoever answered probably just guesed unless there cops or used to be

Answer 9

yes..copyright laws prevent you for doing so