How Do I Protect An Idea For A New Game

[Sado]

Without going into detail, I have had an idea for a new game, and would like to protect this idea. How do you go about this?

[Buenchico]

Start here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office

The bad news for you is that neither copyright nor design rights will help you. You'd need to apply for a patent. The process typically takes around FIVE YEARS and is likely to fail unless you employ a patent agent (at considerable cost)to do the work for you. Even then you'd only have patent protection in the UK. You'd also need to go through the patent application process in every other country in the world.

[atalanta]

Not exactly an answer to your question, but you might want to take steps to prove the date on which you invented the game, in case someone pinches your idea and brings out the same game later. Write down all the details and print it off as a letter to yourself, and post it to to yourself. When it arrives don't open it. The postmark will serve as evidence of the date when you invented it, if there is ever a court case about rights.

[douglas9401]

More or less what atalanta said.

Years ago a local band were writing songs and took them to the bank where words and music were witnessed, signed and dated by them and the manager then sealed in an envelope which again was signed across the flap.

That was in slightly more innocent times mind you, and proof of originality sadly never became an issue.