Czech Supreme Court Rules Against Entrepreneur Who Claimed Copyright to Popular Board Game

The Czech Supreme Court has recently ruled against the entrepreneur Přemysl Chmelař who demanded approximately EUR 235,195 (USD 321,807) in damages from the state for being refused the right to register a copyright for the popular board game “Člověče, nezlob se” (Don’t get angry, man).

The Czech PTO and the Prague Municipal Court argued that this game is in the same rank as chess or checkers, i.e. in the public domain, and ruled that the phrase “Člověče, nezlob se” is part of colloquial Czech.

Chmelař is just one of many people who have tried to obtain the rights to this game, which originated in ancient India and which exists under numerous names and versions all over the world.

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Source: Czech Position online news portal