Toys-Games · Iconic Everyday Products
Is Monopoly Patented?
Yes — but it's a classic stolen-credit story. Lizzie Magie patented The Landlord's Game (US 748,626) in 1904. Charles Darrow filed a near-identical version (US 2,026,082) in 1935 and sold it to Parker Brothers, who became famous for it.
Quick answer
Originally yes — long expired
Yes — but it's a classic stolen-credit story. Lizzie Magie patented The Landlord's Game (US 748,626) in 1904. Charles Darrow filed a near-identical version (US 2,026,082) in 1935 and sold it to Parker Brothers, who became famous for it.
The full story
Lizzie Magie's original 1904 patent was meant to teach Henry George's single-tax theory. Charles Darrow learned the game from Quaker friends in Pennsylvania, modified it slightly, and patented it as his own. Parker Brothers later quietly bought Magie's patent for $500 to clear the title — but never gave her credit. Both patents have long expired, which is why generic Monopoly clones (and free print-and-play versions) are legal.
Key patents on the Monopoly Board Game
Every patent number below is a live USPTO record — click through to read the original claims on Google Patents.
- US 748,626 (1904) — The Landlord's Game (the original Monopoly mechanic). Status: expired / public domain.
- US 2,026,082 (1935) — Board game apparatus (Darrow's version sold to Parker Brothers). Status: expired / public domain.
What to know
- Hasbro (Parker Brothers' successor) owns the Monopoly trademark and every named edition (Star Wars Monopoly, Pokemon Monopoly).
- The game's mechanic is public domain — generic property-trading board games are completely legal.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Monopoly Board Gamecan get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
Read next
History of Patent Law — Patent Act of 1790. Patent Office established 1836. Plant Patent Act 1930. America Invents Act 2011 — first-to-file replaces first-to-invent…