Veda Cruz

Veda Cruz is a video game lawyer, educator, and indie developer. She represents studios and creators across the games industry and teaches video game law and business at the University of Miami. She can be reached at veda at odin law dot com.

Fanart for Sale: Navigating Copyright and Trademark Risks

By / August 5, 2025

Crowded convention aisles often feature tables piled high with vivid prints of iconic game protagonists, anime heroines, and nostalgic cartoon mascots. Shoppers delight in seeing fresh artistic spins on familiar favorites, and individual artists rely on those sales to recoup travel costs, or even finance full-time creative careers. Yet every charming mash-up or stylized portrait …

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3 Things Developers Get Wrong About IP

By / June 9, 2025

In the push to meet milestones and impress publishers, development teams often treat intellectual property (IP) as a box to tick rather than a strategic asset. The result can be costly detours exactly when momentum matters most: disputed titles, ownership surprises or stalled funding rounds. Understanding where misunderstandings typically arise helps studios safeguard creativity, preserve …

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How do I keep my influencer (and my company) out of trouble with the FTC?

By / September 5, 2019

With the rise of streamers on Twitch and mega celebrities endorsing games, many video game companies are considering hiring influencers. An influencer, defined as a person who has a significant following related to a certain topic, can be a great source of publicity and exposure for a video game. For example, Apex Legends received a …

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