How do I patent a board game?

Joie Libutti: Contact a patent lawyer. The patent lawyer will file a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and will handle all necessary research and claims into prior patents. Unfortunately this is an expensive, time-consuming process and can cost you between $5,000 and $10,000 in legal fees.There are three requirements for obtaining a patent. First, the game must not have been sold in the United States before. Second, the game must be useful for some educational or recreational purpose. Third, features of the game must not be obvious; they must be sufficiently different from other games. These patentable features may include both the physical structure of the game (the board or pieces) and the way in which the game is played.I know patents are expensive, but if you're really as confident in your board game as you say you are, you'll make enough profit to compensate for the price....Show more