《三国志·战略版》《率土之滨》二审反转：游戏知识产权保护走向成熟

Core Viewpoint - The second-instance ruling in the copyright dispute between NetEase's "Rate of the Earth" and Lingxi Interactive's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition" reversed the first-instance decision, stating that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition" did not infringe on the copyright of "Rate of the Earth" [1][2][7] Summary by Sections Legal Ruling - The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court ruled that the first-instance judgment was flawed, citing unclear basic facts and incorrect comparison methods, thus sending the case back for retrial [1][2] - The court emphasized that copyright law protects original expressions rather than ideas, indicating that the gameplay rules and design of "Rate of the Earth" fall under the category of ideas and systems, not copyrightable expressions [2][4][5] Game Industry Impact - The ruling signifies a maturation of legal standards regarding copyright disputes in the gaming industry, potentially influencing future cases [1][6] - The decision clarifies the "safe zone" for gameplay innovation, steering industry competition back to the realm of expression and preventing copyright abuse by dominant firms [7][8] - The case highlights a shift towards more nuanced copyright protections in the gaming sector, advocating for the separation of protections for different elements of a game, such as music, art, and text [8] Market Performance - "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition" has performed strongly in the market since its launch in 2019, consistently ranking in the top 20 of sales charts, while "Rate of the Earth" remains in the top 40 [6] - Lingxi Interactive's position in the SLG market has been bolstered by the success of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition," which has attracted a large player base [6]