這也讓我想到，人或動物的診斷與治療方法不能專利，但是執行診斷或治療的醫療器具卻可以專利。所以，遊戲相關的「器具」自然是可以專利的方向，還有，遊戲過程中與硬體的互動流程、遊戲過程中影像處理方法、遊戲使用者介面操作，或是設計，這類只要不是遊戲方法本身，應都算可專利的範疇，所以說，還不少呢！
網路上不少文章討論「Candy Crush」的專利，申請人為開發商：KING.COM（下稱"國王"），截自目前為止（6/22/2017，資料來自USPTO），申請人「KING.COM」已經獲得36件美國專利，當中有9件設計，其餘發明專利全部都是"9"為首的專利號碼，顯見這些都是這幾年獲准的專利；還已知有37件公開中。
國王核准發明專利有：
9,017,170 Method and apparatus for interactive gameplay across multiple computing platforms
9,058,698 Creating a customized avatar that reflects a user's distinguishable attributes
9,079,097 Video game with replaceable tiles having selectable physics
9,233,303 Mobile device game interface
9,278,282 Method for implementing a computer game
9,289,684 Method for implementing a computer game
9,320,967 Method for implementing a computer game
9,342,211 Managing information about avatars across virtual worlds
9,345,965 Method for implementing a computer game
9,387,400 System and method for playing games that require skill
9,387,401 Method for implementing a computer game
9,396,260 Managing multiple virtual world accounts from a single virtual lobby interface
9,399,168 Method for implementing a computer game
9,403,092 Method for implementing a computer game
9,409,089 Method for implementing a computer game
9,417,864 System, method, and device for notification and installation of applications in accordance with calculated data
9,446,311 Device, game and control methods therefor
9,446,313 Device, game and control methods therefor
9,457,276 Computer game elements, device and methods therefor
9,526,982 Method for implementing a computer game
9,557,973 Automatic generation of API classes
9,561,427 Control algorithms and methods for a game board arrangement
9,561,437 Method for implementing a computer game
9,579,569 Method for implementing a computer game
9,592,441 Controlling a user interface of a computer device
9,592,444 Method for implementing a computer game
9,636,590 Adaptive game object alteration
設計專利中有幾件是針對智慧手機上的icon：
D766,326 Display screen with icon
D766,327 Display screen with icon
D766,330 Display screen with icon
D766,982 Display screen with icon
D767,634 Display screen with icon
從petapator工具得到獲准專利中專利佈局從2012年開始，最多的專利類別在「A63F」，次為「G06F」，美國專利分類主類別最多為「463」：
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US9592444
列舉針對"Candy Crush"的專利US9592444，專利名稱直接是「實現電腦遊戲的方法」，請求項1如下，寫法是目前比較主流的寫法，就是用電腦裝置處理器執行一序列步驟，界定一種藉由電腦裝置產生與傳送訊息的控制方法，以其中處理器執行的步驟有：(1)控制顯示器顯示通過社群網路玩的遊戲圖形；(2)當遊戲者在一定義時間內被遊戲困住（卡關），即自動產生訊息；(3)通過通訊網路控制網路介面傳送此訊息給社群網路中的聯絡人（讓社群朋友協助進行遊戲）；(4)接收的訊息有遊戲生命、遊戲的進程，或激活遊戲元件等；(5)使用提供的遊戲生命、進程與激活的元件繼續進行遊戲。
1. A method for controlling the generation and transmission of notifications provided by a computing device comprising a processor, a display, a memory, and a network interface, the method comprising executing on the processor the steps of:
controlling the display to show game graphics for a computer, where the computer game is configured be accessed or played using a social network application or environment;
automatically generating a notification when a player is stuck at a level for of the computer game more than a defined time or after more than a defined number of attempts to pass that level;
controlling the network interface to transmit the notification via a communications network to one or more social network contacts;
subsequently, receiving a message providing at least one of: a life for said game, a move for said game, or an activatable in game item for use when playing said game; and
using said provided life, said provided move, or said provided activatable in game item for further game play.
其他兩個獨立項也是很標準的軟體專利寫法：29. A computing device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a display, a network interface, and computer code stored in device memory and executable by the device processor to perform the steps of:
controlling the display to show game graphics for the computer game, where the computer game is configured to be accessed or played using a social network application or environment;
..................
30. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device comprising a display, a memory, and a network interface, performs a method for controlling the content and transmission of game related messages:
automatically a notification when a player is stuck at a level of the computer game for more than a defined time or after more than a defined number of attempts to pass that level;
....................
從這項範圍來看，也不是遊戲本身的技術，而是界定在遊戲過程中產生與發送notification給社群網路聯絡人的時間點，傳訊息本身不是新的，只是其目的是讓社群網路的朋友可以協助被卡關的遊戲者，這樣是不是具有可專利性？倒是一個值得研究的問題，從本案審查歷史來看，此案請求項中功能手段用語面對是否符合35USC112(f)解釋的疑問，這也是常見於軟體專利的核駁意見中：
交待一下申請時Claim 1：
更可預期地，其中技術手段被認為是人類行為的抽象概念，也不認為具有可以實質超越抽象概念的技術元件，不符35USC101規定：
101答辯：
國王回應這些疑問的方式是，修正專利範圍，讓整體技術更明確，連結到必要元件，如：加入電腦的硬體描述、增加網路的描述、加入社群媒體的描述，以及加入傳送訊息的內容。
然而，我認為，即便這樣修正，其中仍僅是「資訊表示」而已。根據此案答辯歷史，顯然國王花了不少功夫在101答辯上，這裡可以學一下。
第一，引用Enfish案例，先聲明「軟體本身並非固有的抽象概念」而已：
參考資料：改善電腦技術的軟體方法具有可專利性？ - Enfish LLC v Microsoft (Fed. Cir. 2016)（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2016/05/enfish-llc-v-microsoft-fed-cir-2016.html）
第二，在Enfish案例中，「改善電腦技術」並非是抽象概念，並克服TWO-STEP測試中step 2A，以及step 2B實質超越的檢驗：
第三，聲明專利說明書教示專利解決的先前技術的問題，而非僅是抽象概念：
第四，接著描述專利發明本身，在遊戲中，可通過訊息傳遞得到朋友的協助，訊息中包括了遊戲中的元素，並表示，即便專利技術可能如TWO-STEP測試中step 2A的抽象技術，但卻符合step 2B有"實質超越"抽象概念的電腦技術。
另有103議題，不在這裡討論。
US9592444答辯歷史摘要備份：https://app.box.com/s/mmokf9o981f9dc0n82xpfvbzpt5q9sg4
國王其他的專利也應該是值得研究，有空再分享了！
Ron
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