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A case study of Abusing of Game Technology License - The Konami's Music Game Licence Lawsuit Approach -

게임 기술 특허 남용에 대한 사례연구 -코나미사의 음악게임 특허 소송 사례를 중심으로-

  • Received : 2013.12.02
  • Accepted : 2014.01.20
  • Published : 2014.01.28

Abstract

The patent right is that creators are received the right of monopoly for supporting their creation work perseveringly but sometimes it causes infringement of freedom of creation. In this study, we examine the patent of music game in arcade game field and also examine Konami's, which is a main producer in this field, institutes many lawsuits repeatedly. It brought on diversion of rivals and depression of game market. We examine the abuse of music game patent through the case of Konami. We examine the negative influence through all music game market that creativity blocked by repetitive patent lawsuit institutes from little change of operation device and music game hardware even though it is reasonable for guarantee of new technology patent in game field which is a idea industry. We examine the lawsuit cases of abuse of music game patent in Korea, China and Japan and we analyze market change through the cases. We recommend policy for this industry development.

특허권은 처음 새로운 아이디어를 생각해낸 창작자에게 독점권을 제공하여 꾸준한 창작에 도움을 주기 위한 권리이지만, 때로는 창작의 자유를 침해하는 결과를 낳기도 한다. 본 연구는 아케이드 게임기 분야에서의 음악게임 분야의 특허를 살펴보고, 이 분야의 주요 업체인 코나미사가 특허 소송을 반복함으로써 경쟁사를 견제하고 시장을 정체시킨 사례를 통해서 게임 분야에서의 기술 특허권의 남용 문제를 밝히고자 한다. 아이디어 산업인 게임 분야에서 새로운 기술에 대한 특허권을 보장하는 것은 타당하지만, 조작 장치 등 일부 하드웨어의 기술적 특허만을 근거로 소송을 반복하는 것은 새로운 창작의 가로막아 시장 전체에 부정적인 영향을 줄 수 있다는 것을 살펴본다. 한국, 일본 등 세계 각지에서 진행된 여러 소송 사례를 살펴보고 그로 인한 시장의 변화를 통해서 분석해 보았다.

Keywords

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