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Eternal Darkness' infamous sanity system patent has expired - so can anyone now copy it?
GameCube exclusive Eternal Darkness is famous for its patented sanity system - but the rights have now expired. So, could anyone copy it? We asked a lawyer.
GameCube exclusive Eternal Darkness remains a cult classic among video game horror fans for its patented 'sanity system' - a series of paranoia-inducing effects meant to confuse the player and reflect your in-game character's spiralling psyche. While something of a gimmick, Eternal Darkness remains notorious today for the system - which included the game pulling stunts like pretending to crash or turn your TV off, or faking the deletion of your save file. "But NOT anything that is not 'necessary' (graphics, perhaps some specific implementations - eg, sanity effects - as that's artistic expression rightly protected by copyright)."
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