Munchkin, Now With Added Registration

We are pleased to announce that Steve Jackson Games has been granted registrations on two trademarks: the Munchkin logo and the Super Munchkin character seen on the original Munchkin box and elsewhere. That's a fussy legal distinction; essentially, it means the U.S. government recognizes that, in the sphere of tabletop games, we own those brands. Trademarks are specific to segments of the market: There are companies in other areas also using Munchkinas a brand name, and some of them have registered the trademark as well, but as long as they don't start making games and we don't start making whatever it is they make, we're good.

What this means for you, as Munchkin fans, is that the Munchkin logo and the Super Munchkin character should include the "circle-R" designation wherever they appear, including on fan pages. There's more about our requirements in our Online Policy, as well as a very brief introduction to the distinctions among trademarks, copyright, and other forms of intellectual property. It's worth a read. It does NOT mean you have to stop talking about Munchkin (please don't!): the point of trademark law is to give people a way to talk about your products without seeming to claim ownership.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me (clicking my signature below will do it).