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Patent a betting system?
| January 22nd, 2012 at 9:01:07 PM permalink | |
| slackyhacky Member since: Jan 18, 2012 Threads: 16 Posts: 141 | I don't know anything about patent laws. Is it possible to patent a betting system? |
| January 22nd, 2012 at 9:11:18 PM permalink | |
| MathExtremist Member since: Aug 31, 2010 Threads: 45 Posts: 2511 | IANAL, but I'd guess no. A patented invention must be novel, non-obvious, and useful. Betting systems are not useful, at a minimum, and are probably not non-obvious either. Patent examiners have rejected patents on paytables for casino games under the theory that paying a different amount for the same outcome is obvious. By an extension of that logic, betting a different amount on the same wager is also obvious. If so, that means that all betting systems would be obvious (for patentability purposes) over flat-betting. "In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice."
-- Girolamo Cardano, 1563 |
| January 22nd, 2012 at 10:54:30 PM permalink | |
| EvenBob Member since: Jul 18, 2010 Threads: 231 Posts: 6361 |
Nope. This is asked a lot on gambling forums. You can't patent things like recipes or betting systems. Thats why KFC and Coke are kept such big secrets. One casino owner to another: "It would be so much easier if we could just hit them over the head, steal their money, and throw their bodies in the creek." Al Swearengen, Deadwood |
| January 22nd, 2012 at 11:20:33 PM permalink | |
| slackyhacky Member since: Jan 18, 2012 Threads: 16 Posts: 141 |
How about copyright 'em? |
| January 22nd, 2012 at 11:38:48 PM permalink | |
| EvenBob Member since: Jul 18, 2010 Threads: 231 Posts: 6361 | Some recipes and betting systems can be patented, but they have to be useful, novel, and non-obvious. Most are not, and you'll play hell convincing the patent office they are. One casino owner to another: "It would be so much easier if we could just hit them over the head, steal their money, and throw their bodies in the creek." Al Swearengen, Deadwood |
| January 22nd, 2012 at 11:42:05 PM permalink | |
| YoDiceRoll11 Member since: Jan 9, 2012 Threads: 7 Posts: 529 |
It's like trying to copyright basic math. Sure certain people get credited for coming up with different theorems and solutions to different problems. But trying to patent a "betting system" is like trying to patent any basic math formula. Take the Pythagorean formula for finding the inside angles of right triangles. So everyone knows this is a^2 + b^2 = c^2. And most people know where it comes from. You couldn't just make a variation of it, and magically call it the YoDice formula. It just doesn't work. |
| January 23rd, 2012 at 2:58:38 AM permalink | |
| P90 Member since: Jan 8, 2011 Threads: 7 Posts: 1113 |
You can only copyright a text, not an idea. For instance, a book can be copyrighted, but not the basic storyline. Generally copyright law is very inconsistent (at least to me, IANAL), it's tailored to protect particular major holders (Disney). So anyone would be able to describe the system as well. He doesn't even need to change a lot - if there is only one sensible way to describe it, merger doctrine will apply. For instance, an equation, a sequence of numbers or a set of equations, no matter how long and complex it is, can not have copyright protection. |
| January 23rd, 2012 at 3:38:29 AM permalink | |
| FleaStiff Member since: Oct 19, 2009 Threads: 75 Posts: 4790 | >I don't know anything about patent laws. I do. >Is it possible to patent a betting system? No. That's it! You can have some unique betting progression at roulette known as the SlackyHacky, but aside from intellectual property protection for the name SlackyHacky and for the visual manner in which you depict that name, there are no protections wherein you could exclude others from using the betting system or exclude others from popularizing the betting system. Depending upon how unique the term SlackyHacky is you might not even get any protection for the name, but you will never get any protection for this two units, seventeen units then three units if its a Tuesday stuff. Now if you want to write a book about the SlackyHacky betting system and how it has helped you get rich, get laid and get rid of dandruff you will be able to copyright that book but the system itself is not a protectable work. |
| January 23rd, 2012 at 3:51:14 AM permalink | |
| P90 Member since: Jan 8, 2011 Threads: 7 Posts: 1113 |
Actually names themselves are not copyrightable at all. They can be protected by a trademark, however, if you are selling books called "SlackyHacky Mega System" and making a profit (to pay the fees). Unregistered trademark ("TM" as opposed to "(R)") only prevents people from passing off books on your system as the original, but a book called "SlackyHacky System for Dummies" would be legal. |
| January 23rd, 2012 at 4:28:26 AM permalink | |
| DJTeddyBear Member since: Nov 2, 2009 Threads: 105 Posts: 5682 | First off, no, you can't patent a betting system. But assume for a minute that you COULD patent it. Then what? How are you gonna prevent millions of ordinary people from using a system that happens to be the same as what you had patented? Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown.
But how much does it cost to knock on wood? |
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