Tetris的智慧財產權情況之所以如此複雜，主要源於其歷史背景橫跨冷戰時期的蘇聯、遊戲發明者與多家經銷商之間的複雜授權談判，以及後期轉向依賴版權（Copyright）與商標（Trademark）而非專利（Patent）來保護遊戲設計的策略。這些因素使得Tetris的知識產權故事充滿法律糾葛與歷史趣味。

首先，蘇聯時期的版權歸屬是一個核心因素。Alexey Pajitnov於1984年在蘇聯科學院電腦中心工作時發明Tetris。根據當時蘇聯法律，他在工作期間創作的軟體屬於國家財產，因此最初他並未獲得任何版稅或直接收益。這也為後來的國際授權糾紛埋下伏筆，因為遊戲的真正所有權形式模糊，外國公司在取得授權時便陷入多方角力的局面。

在遊戲傳播到西方後，授權爭奪戰愈演愈烈。多家公司，包括Mirrorsoft、Spectrum HoloByte、Nintendo和Atari等，都試圖獲得Tetris的發行權。當時負責蘇聯軟體出口的國營機構ELORG（Elektronorgtechnica）與這些公司展開多線談判，使得授權鏈極度複雜且爭議不斷。不同公司在不同平台的授權甚至互相衝突，導致一系列國際法律糾紛。

專利保護在遊戲領域的局限性也加劇複雜性。Tetris的遊戲機制和規則通常難以申請專利，即使Pajitnov當初申請專利，專利的保護期通常只有20年，已經過期。The Tetris Company (TTC) 後期持有的少數專利僅涵蓋特定的操作技術，例如觸控螢幕操作，而非核心玩法本身。因此，單純依靠專利保護遊戲是不可行的。

現今，TTC主要依靠版權和商標來維護其智慧財產權。商標方面，“Tetris”名稱、標誌及相關視覺元素均已註冊，以防止他人使用相同品牌造成市場混淆。版權方面，雖然遊戲概念本身不受保護，但其特定的「表達形式」受法律保護。例如在2012年的Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc.案中，法院裁定遊戲區域（20x10）、方塊的特定顏色、預覽下一個方塊、以及方塊接觸底部時的顏色變化等元素均屬於創意表達，受版權保護。這種裁定強化對Tetris視覺風格與操作感受的法律保護。

總結來說，Tetris的智慧財產權複雜性不在於單一專利，而在於其跨越不同政治經濟體制、涉及多方授權爭奪，以及結合版權與商標的長期策略。The Tetris Company利用這種「版權+商標」策略，有效維護Tetris獨特的「外觀與感覺」，確保其在全球市場的持續影響力和商業價值。

The intellectual property situation of Tetris is notoriously complex, primarily due to its history spanning the Cold War-era Soviet Union, the complicated licensing negotiations between its creator and multiple distributors, and the later shift toward relying on copyright and trademark protection rather than patents to safeguard the game’s design. These factors make the legal and historical story of Tetris both intricate and fascinating.

First, the copyright situation during the Soviet period is a key factor. Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris in 1984 while working at the Soviet Academy of Sciences’ Computer Center. Under Soviet law at the time, software created during one’s employment was considered state property, meaning Pajitnov initially received no royalties or direct financial benefits. This ambiguity regarding ownership laid the groundwork for subsequent international licensing disputes, as foreign companies had to navigate multiple claims over the game’s rights.

Once Tetris spread to the West, the licensing battles intensified. Several companies, including Mirrorsoft, Spectrum HoloByte, Nintendo, and Atari, all attempted to acquire publishing rights. The state-owned Soviet agency ELORG (Elektronorgtechnica), responsible for software exports, engaged in multi-party negotiations with these companies, creating an extremely complex and contested licensing chain. Different companies’ licenses for different platforms even conflicted, resulting in a series of international legal disputes.

Patent protection also posed limitations in the gaming industry. The mechanics and rules of Tetris were difficult to patent. Even if Pajitnov had applied for a patent, the typical 20-year term would have long expired. Later patents held by The Tetris Company (TTC) only covered specific operational techniques, such as touchscreen controls, rather than the core gameplay itself. Thus, relying solely on patents to protect the game was impractical.

Today, TTC primarily relies on copyright and trademark to protect its intellectual property. In terms of trademarks, the “Tetris” name, logo, and associated visual elements are registered to prevent others from using the brand and causing consumer confusion. Regarding copyright, while the general concept of the game is not protected, its specific expressive elements are. For instance, in the 2012 case Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc., the court ruled that visual elements such as the 20x10 playfield, the specific colors of the blocks, the “next piece” preview, and the color change when blocks reach the bottom are unique expressions protected by copyright. This ruling strengthened legal protection over Tetris’s visual style and gameplay experience.

In summary, the complexity of Tetris’s intellectual property does not stem from a single patent but from its cross-political history, multi-party licensing disputes, and long-term strategy combining copyright and trademark. The Tetris Company has effectively leveraged this strategy to safeguard Tetris’s unique “look and feel,” ensuring its continued global influence and commercial value.