Does anyone know if dominos, reversi, or backgammon are copyrighted?

Question

I need to know if they are copyrighted or if they are in public domain before I can include them in a publication which would require use of the game board and pieces. Thanks, S.C.

Answer 1

All three are public domain. Reversi is produced by Mattel by the name Othello; the name Othello is registered but the game itself is still public domain. So you can make your own Dominoes, Reversi and Backgammon games and sell them and Not get sued by anybody. Remember not to use the name Othello though.

Answer 2

Backgammon was played in essentially the same way in medieval times, under the name "tables." See http://www.tirbriste.org/dmir/Games/1204.html for the only two differences.
Dominoes go back at least to the Renaissance. Put "Dutch Renaissance Domino Game" (WITH quotes) into any Web-search engine to find lots of places that sell an expensive modern replica. The clearest picture I've seen so far is at http://tradingstories.com/dutrendomgam.html . The dots are above and below carved faces.
The publication of either game in the 20th century does not mean that it's copyright, although any rules pamphlet with its particular wording might well be.

Answer 3

holzinsel published reversi (Unknown Year)

3M was the first to publish backgammon in 1973

MB published Backgammon Schule in 1975

Two Wolf Games pubished Backgammon 4 in 1980

Great American Puzzle Factory published Dominoes in 1996

Historien Spielegalerie published Backgammon Circle in 1993

HABA-Habermaaß GmbH published Backgammon (mit Wölfen und Schafen) in 2004

Answer 4

They are all public domain. However, be sure not to use any copyright pieces (e.g. Harry Potter dominos) or boards.