1998 (year): Difference between revisions

* July 31st: After undergoing several months of examination, patent no. 2922509 was successfully approved by Japanese patent law. This mainly covers elements of the cabinet design, hardware, software, and gameplay mechanics utilized in the original beatmania series, including keysounded notes and vertical note lanes. While its main association is with beatmania, many fans have come to nickname it the "BEMANI patent" due to due many other BEMANI titles released at the time often sharing these gameplay elements. This patent would remain in effect until July 31st, 2018.