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Comment by mergesort | Hacker News Reader

Taboo has a trademark, not a copyright. So everywhere I use the word Taboo, I add the trademark symbol (except one screen, which has been fixed but not submitted).

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You are correct there is no copyright to the game per se - but - don't forget that literary and pictorial expressions associated to the game can be subject to copyright: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl108.html I hope you have consulted a lawyer regarding this because Taboo is published by Hasbro.

Still, let say I create a game called "Run, run" which I explain in my description as:

  "The most fun way to play monopoly on your iphone"

  "But what is Monopoly?"
  "You and your friends split into two teams. [...]"

I just copied a very popular game but changed the medium of how to play it. But then, again, it's more by curiosity that I'm asking this.

Game mechanics are not copyrightable. A concrete expression of the rules is copyrightable (you can't copy-paste Monopoly's rule book), as is artwork.

"Play-alike" games are in the clear. "Look-alike" games are not.

I wouldn't say "play monopoly". I'd say "play a property-trading game like Monopoly".

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