Hasbro Wins in ‘Game of Life’ Copyright Dispute With Co-Creator (1)

The successor to a late co-creator of The Game of Life board game can’t end an old licensing agreement with Milton Bradley Co. because it doesn’t own the copyright to the game, a federal court said.

Markham Concepts Inc., a company started by late toy developer Bill Markham, doesn’t have rights because Markham and his employees developed the game at the behest of Milton Bradley Co., now owned by Hasbro Inc., the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled Jan. 25.

Markham had long fought the toy giants over recognition and royalty payments, and in 2015 sued ...