The Landlord's Game

The Landlord 's Game is a 1904 patented by Elizabeth magic board game.

The game is modeled with its elements the real estate market. Players collect other mutually rents receivable and taxes lead to a common fund from. With the elements of the game and also with the structure of the board Magies the game today more widely known Monopoly by Charles Darrow in 1930 is very similar.

While many similar games were at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States are indeed played, but it is in The Landlord 's Game, at least to the first of its kind, which is also still documented by a patent. Since claims expire usually after 20 years, Elizabeth magic revised their game plan and got it starting with the 1924 awarded a second patent.

In 1974 there was a legal dispute between General Mills, then owner of Parker Brothers ( Monopoly, Author: Charles Darrow ) and Ralph Anspach (Anti - Monopoly, Author: Ralph Anspach ), in which it should be clarified whether the latter game from the market must be taken. As a result of this action was, according to sources before the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Monopoly is a copy of the outstanding since 1904 The Landlord 's Game. In another, also previously existing games with the same name and gameplay, such as Atlantic City Monopoly ( before 1930 ) or Finance ( 1932) was referred to. Magies game learned thus indirectly the confirmation to be at least the oldest patent- finished game of its genre.

• Board game