Legal issues

Many people have expressed concerns about copyrights, trademarks and patents applicable to Monopoly® and the possible implications for Atlantik development and distribution.

I believe that Atlantik is completely clear of violating any copyrights, trademarks or patents and that there are no legal issues that might affect development or distribution of either the server component or client application.

The game itself

There is no code in Atlantik at all which refers to Monopoly® game rules, definitions or object names and looks. Atlantik merely visualises definitions from configuration files sent by the server compononent during gameplay, much like a web browser visualises Internet content. Any artwork used is original and has been specifically designed not to closely resemble the artwork of Parker Brothers.

The server component currently ships with two configuration sets. One of them indeed has a close resemblence to Monopoly® and features the streets of Atlantic City just like Monopoly®. However, this is a folk game predating Parker Brothers Monopoly®. Parker Brothers has no rights to this folk game other than their copyrighted visual enhancements.

• History of Monopoly® (as accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court)
• The Monopolization of Monopoly®

The Monopoly® Trademark

Atlantik was renamed from KMonop to avoid possible legal action over the Monopoly® trademark. Wherever the phrase Monopoly® is used, it should be accompanied with the registered trademark symbol, except there where I use "Monopoly-like" which is my preferred term for board games involving property acquisition and trading.