Given the introduction of the ‘NO FAKES’ Act by a bi-partisan group of senators within days of U.S. Copyright Office’s release of its digital replicas report asserting an “urgent need” for more cohesive protections at the federal level, it’s clear that momentum is building for federal oversight in the realm of deepfake and digital replication
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China Proposes New Regulations for Online Gaming
By Samuel Cohen
In December 2023, China’s National Press and Publication Administration introduced draft regulations with potentially significant implications for the online gaming industry. The proposed regulations, aimed at curbing in-game spending, could substantially affect games that rely on high spenders for their revenue, particularly “free to play” games. This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to…
Blockchain Game Developers and FinCEN: When are State Money Transmission Laws Applicable?
The rising prevalence of crypto and virtual currencies has invited the scrutiny of several regulatory bodies who continue to grapple with the unique challenges posed by blockchain technology, FinCEN being one prime example. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) is an arm of the United States Department of Treasury that seeks to impede financial crimes…
Too Many Bites at the Apple?
When a patent owner loses at the International Trade Commission (“ITC”), can it hire new counsel and try again in district court? That question will be answered in Gamevice, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. et al, No. 3-18-cv-01942 (N.D. Cal.), where plaintiff Gamevice is asserting three patents against Nintendo despite losing on those same patents in…
Video Games, AI, and …the Law?
Video games have come a long way. They have morphed from simulated games of ping pong to today’s fully-immersive virtual reality games that leverage biometrics and artificial intelligence (AI). While the origins of using AI in games were simple – such as to create more realistic non-player characters – the use of AI now allows…
What the Future Holds for Esports Gambling
The emergence of legalized sports gambling in more than half the states across the country appears destined to coincide with the rise of competitive video gaming or “esports”—a wildly popular sphere within the entertainment industry now facing increasing regulatory scrutiny.…
Esports Media Rights
Sheppard Mullin’s Esports and Games Industry Team is pleased to share our whitepaper on Esports Media Rights, in partnership with and co-written by FTI Consulting, a leading global business advisory firm.…
Strategic Partnerships Advance Music and Gaming Synergy
By Samuel Cohen
A newly inked strategic partnership between Sony Music Entertainment and Roblox is another indication of a maturing relationship amongst the music, gaming, and esports industries, a synergy that has evolved for years and in particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The major record label and game creation platform have enjoyed the mutual success of their…
Playing with privacy? Privacy and cybersecurity considerations in esports
By Liisa Thomas & Julia Kadish
This was originally published by Esports Insider on June 24, 2021
The world of competitive video gaming implicates a complicated patchwork of privacy laws, and esports companies need to keep in mind some key issues when assessing privacy and cybersecurity obligations. Understanding these obligations is all the more important as esports continues to be a…
The Legal Considerations of Esports NFTs
By James Gatto
This was originally published by Esports Insider on June 4, 2021
Within the blockchain space, one of the fastest-growing areas is NFTs. Within the games space, esports is growing rapidly. So naturally the combination of NFTs and esports should have tremendous potential. This article will explore some opportunities at the intersection of these trends and…