Counterfeit board games exist, and the problem is getting worse. Let’s talk about what we can do.
Tabletop counterfeiting has been around from a while in a few different forms:
- Actual printed versions of games using either stolen source files, print-and-play files, high-res scans of the printed game, or printed versions of files uploaded to Tabletop Simulator. See a recent article from the creators of Kelp, as well as this article about Catan, Pandemic, and others and this article about Wingspan.
- Using the same sources mentioned above, for years people have been putting entire games on Tabletop Simulator without the publisher’s permission. TTS only acts if these unauthorized reproductions are reported by the publisher and if the publisher has information on their website saying that such reproductions are not allowed (and that’s if TTS responds at all).
- Some secondary marketplace online listings for games aren’t actually selling anything tangible; they’re just photos of the game taken from the publisher’s website and posted for sale. If you buy it, you don’t receive anything at all.
In some ways, I’m left feeling helpless by the counterfeit situation. Marketplaces like eBay don’t care (we and others have reported this seller, for example, as selling counterfeit games, yet they’re still on eBay). We also can’t stop the creation of counterfeits—high-res scanning is too good now, and as seen by Kelp (a game that’s 9 months away from release), not having a physical copy of the game isn’t slowing eager counterfeiters. And even if we include components that are difficult to replicate, the customer doesn’t know until they’ve already purchased the product, as counterfeiters can use photos of the real game on their online listings.
For example, see this photo of Wingspan. It looks real, right? Someone saved up their hard-earned money to buy this game, and they paid a reasonable price (sometimes too-good-to-be-true prices are pretty obvious, but this wasn’t the case here). Yet it’s a counterfeit: We can tell even just from the photo, as the Stonemaier Games logo is missing from the upper right.
It’s hard to say at this point how much it’s impacting our business, but I do know there are lost sales and plenty of customer confusion and frustration.
However, the situation isn’t entirely hopeless. Let’s talk about what consumers and publishers can do.
Consumers
There was a recent thread in a Facebook group about counterfeits, and I was baffled that a few people actually seemed to condone the practice. I really don’t think there’s any gray area here: Counterfeiting is theft. It is unethical and immoral. A game being unavailable in a specific place does not justify the game being illegally copied and sold. This hurts the publisher, the designer, and anyone selling legitimate copies of the game. Some people in the thread actually said that the existence of counterfeits is the responsibility of the publisher and that the publisher should replace counterfeit copies for free (further damaging the publisher).
While there are steps publishers can take to decrease counterfeits, I can assure you that no publisher wants counterfeits to exist. We are not the cause. But counterfeits wouldn’t exist if people weren’t buying them, so here’s what you can do to take responsibility and reduce this form of theft:
- If you see an ad for a product that seems even a little bit fishy, consider reporting it to Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc (wherever you see the ad).
- If you think you may have purchased a counterfeit game, report it to the publisher and share the website publicly so others don’t make the same mistake. Also report the product and the seller to the marketplace where you purchased it (eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, etc). You can also report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the FTC, or the CFPB.
- Buy only from publishers, local retailers, and reputable websites (not secondary marketplaces), especially if the offer seems too good to be true. This is especially the case for hard-to-find products, and even moreso during the holiday season when scammers prey on consumers who are eager to find the perfect gifts for loved ones.
Here are some telltale signs that you may have a counterfeit version of a game:
- The front of the box doesn’t have the publisher’s trademarked logo.
- The player mats, board, or playmats are glossy and of poor quality.
- The shrinkwrapping of card decks doesn’t have easy-peel opening.
- The printing of text or images is low-res and blurry.
Publishers
As I discuss above, it is impossible to completely prevent counterfeiting, but here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk:
- Don’t release print-and-play versions of your games.
- Don’t use Tabletop Simulator.
- Include components and component qualities that are difficult to counterfeit.
- Try to work with a variety of distributors and localization partners worldwide (and keep your in-demand products in stock) so people everywhere have the option to buy them. We paused our partnerships with Russian publishers in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we’re now seeing lots of counterfeits appear there.
If you learn that one of your products has been counterfeited, here are some steps you can take:
- Contact your lawyer to learn about your options and costs.
- If a vendor is selling counterfeit games, find their platform by looking at the footer on their store or try https://www.who-hosts-this.com/, then report the DMCA (Digital Millennium Counterfeit Act) following that store’s guidelines (like this for Shopify).
- Broadcast it. Let people know about the counterfeit so they know not to support the fraudulent “publisher” or vendor.
- If the counterfeited product is being sold on Amazon, here’s some information to consider. We have had good results using Amazon Transparency, which Amazon uses to confirm a product is legitimate.
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If you have any other thoughts/examples on how to prevent and report counterfeits, please share them in the comments.
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37 Comments on “Game Counterfeits and What We Can Do About Them”
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do you have proof or examples of a PnP being counterfeited?
100%. The Kelp PnP was counterfeited soon after their campaign ended–there’s information about this in the above post.
I feel differently about TTS. It led me to buying games. Wingspan in particular. There’s no real replacement to playing in person. TTS in my opinion offers a try before you buy situation. That said, I respect your stance. I just don’t think it’s TTS that’s the problem.
Thanks for your perspective, Brenden! We offer free demo versions of our games through Tabletopia (a platform that, for a variety of reasons, we find vastly better than TTS, particularly in terms of ethics and morals) for that exact reason. Feel free to try them there! :)
I wasn’t aware of the issue of counterfeiting until I read a forum post on BGG on the Terraforming Mars page a couple of years ago. There were good photo comparisons between genuine components and the counterfeit.
There was also another post where the designer of TM said this: “The surest way to tell is to rip a card. All legit copies have a black core (a thin black layer inside) to prevent see-through” (there is a blank card to do this on , or he even suggested ripping one of the beginner corporations!).
Could something like a small unique serial number/bar code/QR code be printed inside the box and/or security sealed shrink wrapping. Once you open it you could enter the serial number on the publisher’s website to register your game / check it’s authenticity.
Doesn’t help with those that just want to get the game for a silly price, or those who aren’t even aware of the issue/looking out for counterfeit games when they receive them, or what the typical RRP should be to compare it to the price they’re paying to cause suspicion.
Another idea – an anti counterfeit warning message box embedded somewhere in the rulebook -1st page – these could be standardised to be easily recognisable. They used to have an anti piracy trailer at the start of DVDs which lots of people remember (the IT Crowd even parodied it). Easy to counterfeit of course, but it will draw attention to the issue and promote customers to check or think about their game, where they got it from, things to look out for and what they can do if they suspect they have a counterfeit product etc.
Thanks for sharing these ideas, James. I think the majority of people don’t know to look to see if a game is authentic or not, so if these ideas could be combined with a message that says, “Go here (link/QR) to see if your game is authentic,” that could work.
It’s definitely a way of raising awareness of the issue; people will almost certainly need to open the rulebook for setup at least.
I had a go at drafting what was in my mind here, it’s rough and I nicked some of your text, but I would be happy with something like this in rulebooks, just as a reminder to check:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!As38dl4-0-G3kohMsKrP0m9aqVXxbA?e=xyXJt2
Sure you guys can make it much better! You could even link to each game’s page on your website with up to date information on known counterfeit copies and what their specific errors / signs are (like the typos and missing ‘r’s in TM’s cards)
Good luck!
This is excellent, James! Thank you for creating the mockup!
No worries. The QR code actually works too :)
[…] Stonemaier Games, un autre éditeur de jeux (Scythe, Wingspan) en a fait le relais et s’est penché sur la question. Comment faire pour empêcher que cela n’arrive ? Kelp n’est d’ailleurs pas le […]
“Buy only from publishers, local retailers, and reputable websites (not secondary marketplaces), especially if the offer seems too good to be true.”
I agree that this is the most surefire way to avoid counterfeit scams, and I’m not sure if there’s any better way to avoid problems in this area, but it is sad that taking this approach (of only shopping from commonly known and widely verified websites) is sometimes necessary, as I can see this creating a difficult hurdle for newer online retailers who legitimately source games to build a reputation in the first place.
For example, along with publishing games, our business, Circle J Games, is an online- and event-only retailer for a handful of games that we enjoy and want to share, but creating a trusted marketplace can be difficult to begin doing.
Thankfully there are ways to slowly and surely build validity anyway, through little contacts and experiences here and there.
I absolutely agree, ” Counterfeiting is theft.” In this digital age it is so easy to make something appear like the real thing, especially online. My dad always told me if something looks too good to be true then it probably is.
I just read about the Kelp situation this morning and hope that can recover.
May I have your advice about a card game preview on Gamefound. It is called Dog Cat Bunny Bear. It has the same rules and game mechanics as Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. The only difference is the words spoken and the artwork.
Would you consider this to be a counterfeit? Should Gamefound or Dolphin Hat Games be notified? Should I write the creator (Ryan Portelli) and tell him about his game’s similarities to TCGCP?
That definitely isn’t a counterfeit (a counterfeit is a 1:1 copy of a game). If the rules are word-for-word identical, it’s a plagiarism.
Even if neither of those apply, it still sounds a big suspect, and I would recommend sharing it with Dolphin Hat Games and Gamefound.
Sorry, that was dumb of me. It is not a counterfeit, just a copy of the rules and mechanics of the game with a facelift. I emailed the creator first to ensure he knew the similarities, but he has yet to respond. I just emailed Dolphin Hat Games and Gamfound to make them aware. Thank you for your advice, and have a great weekend.
Great article Jamey – thank you for highlighting this issue and sharing your comments and ideas. As I embark on crowdfunding my game, this gives me excellent advice, particularly related to 1) TTS, which I’ll keep for playtesting as invitation only and NOT open up, and 2) Print and play, which I will now NOT do.
What are your thoughts on other online platforms like Board Game Geek, Board Game Arena, etc., or publisher websites, and the risks? Have you heard of these being vectors to screenscrape and get digital images? I’m thinking of how to “enrich” my company content with some images like the comment about Magic above.
John: I think screenshotted components aren’t nearly as big of a risk for counterfeits. I have seen some images posted on BGG that are clearly taken and share for the intent of printing them, but it’s rare, and you can always report them to the BGG admins if you have concerns.
Using different or simplified art on your TTS mod could also work. If the final print copy looks different enough than the TTS mod, you’ll be able to easily point out fake copies that used the TTS art.
Hey, Jamey!
I agree with with your post almost 100%. The only part that I am in doubt is this:
“Buy only from publishers, local retailers, and reputable websites (not secondary marketplaces)…”
I am supposing that you are not recommending against buying games second-hand, for several reasons (it would keep players from getting cheaper used games when they can’t afford new games, it would be non-ecological not to reuse games instead of discarding them, etc.). So it would be better if you could clarify that.
Alberto: Thanks for your thoughts! I would say “buyer beware” when buying secondhand. I agree that it’s a good outlet for discounted prices, and it helps games remain in circulation, but there is definitely a higher risk to the buyer in those situations (beyond just counterfeits).
Heya,
If you notice a seller on ebay for example tell more people about it and have more people report that seller. It’ll speed reaction time of ebay.
I agree–that’s one of the reasons I liked to that particular seller in the above post.
I buy most games at my FLGS, partly due to the weekly boardgame nights, and partly to reduce risk of counterfeit games. I only order a few games from online, Stonemaier, plus an online store I have dealt with for years.
I distrust Amazon intensely, they don’t care what happens under their ‘roof’ and do little to combat counterfeits.
I can think of little worse than paying for an expensive game online (+ delivery) only to find out later it was counterfeit.
Jamey. Would it be possible to have a Stonemaier games security hologram in a corner on the box front ?. Would that be hard for counterfeiters to replicate? .
If the Stonemaier and Bgg community looked out for it, it may deter counterfeits ?
That’s an interesting idea, Mark. Magic does that, so I’m guessing it’s hard to replicate. I think it would help to identify counterfeits but not to deter them, unfortunately.
Counterfeiting is wrong. Full stop.
My head still hurts as I try to grasp the sort of thinking that would allow you to espouse the idea that “the existence of counterfeits are the responsibility of the publisher and that the publisher should replace counterfeit copies for free” — I really want to know what color the sky is in their little world.
I have been in Information Technology for a long time. I have heard every excuse under the sun to justify the illegal copying of software and digital assets. I have tried to push back, but the people who feel that way are nor persuadable.
The same goes for the music industry. I have a sizable music collection. I have had people try to gift me songs digitally. I generally accept the disc or what-have-you, buy legitimate copies of what I want (and can afford), then destroy said gifted disc. I am not stealing from anyone, no matter how innocent someone falsely claims it to be.
I would not have thought that the board gaming world would have so many physical counterfeits. I know of many RPG products that have been scanned and sold/distributed online. I report those anytime I see them. But taking the time to craft a fully physical copy of a game like Wingspan? You gotta be dedicated to your grift to go that far. But in the end, if there is a scam to be made, there is a scammer willing to make it. But only as long as their is a customer.
So… as you said, be vigilant and do not buy scam products. Do not line the pockets of thieves. Thanks for the reminder.
I appreciate your integrity and respect for intellectual property, David!
Well I have to say I learn something today. I never thought about counterfeit boardgames so thank you for sharing and educating the public.
I think that’s the first step and I particularly like that you gave us, the users, some ways we can help out.
I haven’t seen the thread on counterfeit and I find it mind boggling that people would be okay with it. Theft is theft. I also agree the onus is on the consumer not the publisher. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and I find surprising someone would think publishers are responsible to replace counterfeit. You wouldn’t go to a bank with a fake dollar and ask them to replace it….
The optimist in me would like to remind that social media is often full with trolls and the lowest of humanity and I wouldn’t see it as a reflection of most peoples feelings on the subject.
I think like with anything else with counterfeit, it’s about service and quality. I don’t think we can stop all of it from happening but we can educate consumers on it and publishers can continue to provide the service and a highest quality which is bottom line what people care about.
I just hope it does not drive prices even higher like it did with fancy purses (lol)
Well said, Val. Hopefully the awareness can help prevent some of these unethical and immoral counterfeit practices!
Thanks for the article Jamey.
One thing I have always done with my games is to make a minor visual change to a component in every iteration of each of my games. This includes every digital release, translation, and print run, among other things.
The changes are so minor that they have no impact to the end user, and I have to keep a log of the changes so even I can remember them.
While this doesn’t prevent counterfeits in any form, what it does do is help track down if and where files are being sourced from. For example, knowing the used files came from print 7 or a certain digital platform, can help prevent future problems.
I should note I specifically pick a component inside the box and not the box itself for this.
That’s clever, Frank! Thank you for sharing.
Frank’s now got the Isle of Cats counterfeiters furiously sourcing every version of the game so they can figure out which component is trackable (:
Good write-up. In example/bullet point #1, who do you believe is actually manufacturing the counterfeits? Are they coming out of China where the real games are being manufactured? Or is the source unknown?
Example/bullet point 2 is problematic, but isnt really counterfeiting. With Tabletop Simulator, I don’t believe anyone actually believes they are getting a real version of the game. Unless, do people believe that those versions are sanctioned by the publisher? Are they in some cases? Or is everything on Tabletop Simulator akin to Napster/mp3s from 25 years ago? Maybe I am misunderstanding as I haven’t used TTS before. This may lead to lost revenue for the publisher (which is a problem), but I don’t believe it hurts, frustrates, or angers consumers.
Example/bullet point 3 isnt counterfeiting either, it is straight up fraud or scam. It is rampant all over the internet and is not specific to boardgames. Anyone can list anything for sale – board game, iPhone, clothing, whatever – and not deliver it.
I think some of the counterfeits are being made in China; I’ve heard of others in Russia and Iran.
You’re right that while 2 and 3 are akin to counterfeiting, they aren’t exactly counterfeiting.
Excellent points Jamey. Just chiming in with an article that also brings up some good points by Gabe Newell from Valve
https://www.gamesradar.com/gabe-newell-piracy-issue-service-not-price/
Thanks for sharing! While there probably are some examples that make his point, I would not say that Wingspan is one of them, given how many different place and language versions there are available worldwide.
Although I agree with the principle, I find it very hard to implement with physical games. Specially when it seems that many people buying counterfeit games are not even aware of that fact until it is very late in the process. How would you propose to do so?