Fun Times: Patents ARE Interesting: Ghost Mode

[gamer]

Think patents are boring? Correct. They are. Very boring. For the most part. Sometimes, though, they're not boring, and can in fact be very, very interesting. This is one of those times. Did you know that Midway hold a series of patents that gives them practical ownership of the concept of recorded "ghosts" in racing games?
It's true! And for years now, companies wanting to include the feature in their own titles have been licensing the idea from Midway. Need for Speed Underground, Project Gotham Racing, Outrun 2006, Ridge Racer 6...all have employed patent #5,577,913, a "System and Method for Driver Training With Multiple Driver Competition".
It all stems from Midway's ownership of the rights to Atari's 1989 Hard Drivin', for which the patent was filed. And while many games pay Midway for the use of the feature, most don't because they don't even know the patent exists. So there you go. Patents can be fun! And interesting! Luke Plunkett
Hard Drivin', Hard Bargainin': Investigating Midway's 'Ghost Racer' Patent [Gamasutra]
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