I found this article on Slashdot about a proposed new type of patent.
http://righttocreate.blogspot.com/2006/02/ieee-we-want-new-type-of-paten...
These patents will be faster to obtain (no 18-20 months), will be cheaper, and will last only 4 years instead of 20. The purpose is for fast-growing computer technologies - but I can see a patent that is cheapter and easier to obtain being useful for board game designers as well. It's a pretty interesting read.
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