What game designers should know about copyrights and trademarks | Zachary Strebeck 

@Frederickam wrote, “My tabletop game has the same name and images that are identical to my copyrighted book.” Copyright does NOT protect names or titles of things, including books, movies, and games. Trademarks, on the other hand, can protect the names of (distinctive) products & services. @Frederickam wrote, “To my understanding, the name of my game, as well as the images, are protected under the copyright of the book. Is this true?” Images (photographs, illustrations, drawings) are copyrightable if they include a sufficient amount of creativity. So, if the photographs from your tabletop game are copyrightable, then your (photo) copyright would extend to your book. To help *presumptively prove* that your photographs, books, games are copyrightable, you should IMMEDIATELY get them registered with the US Copyright Office (USCO). The USCO will review your copyright registration application and deposit (what you’re registering). If your works fit within the scope of copyright subject matter + include some creativity, the USCO will mail you a Certificate of Registration, and that’s you’re *“prima-facie evidence” (proof) of your copyright validity.*