Defeating mobile game clones: Why copyright protection is not enough

Cloning is as old as the video game industry itself. With classics like Pong and Space Invaders and modern titles like WarCraft and Farmville, video games have “borrowed” heavily from their predecessors. The term “cloning” is pejorative and suggests a level of borrowing that exceeds an implicit industry acceptance. Indeed, many successful game developers have witnessed elements of their creations appear in the games of their competitors. However, the prevalence of cloning has seemingly increased as developers create more games for mobile applications. These games are often easier to clone and distribute, making it likely that a fast-follower can get a clone on the market soon after the launch of the original game.