Making a game is both a creative and a business process. With that comes legal considerations that can shape a game project from its earliest concept through post-launch support. For many developers, legal issues appear in stages. A team starts with an idea, brings in collaborators, creates assets, tests the build, prepares for release, and …
A development or publishing agreement can look like a lifeline right up until it isn’t. Studios of every size have signed deals that seemed reasonable at the time, only to find themselves on the wrong end of a termination clause that wiped out their runway, stripped them of rights to work they spent years building …
Starting a business has never been more accessible and at the same time, never more complicated. Between global audiences and new tools that let creators and founders move faster than ever, it’s easier to build something real. Because of that, making sure that the fundamentals don’t get skipped is also more crucial than ever. This …
Introducing the 10-Step Quick Start Guide for New Businesses Read More »
When I studied Spanish translation in college, Google translate was in its infancy and only provided the roughest of translations. My tools were primarily dictionaries and thesauruses, internet searches, example texts, and my own knowledge of Spanish and English. Within the last year, however, I took a Spanish short story, ran it through a machine …
AI Tools in Legal Work: Good Help Still Needs a Lawyer Read More »
Something is shifting in the Roblox ecosystem. Off the back of the commercial success of “Grow a Garden” and “Steal a Brainrot,” each of which began as a hit Roblox game and grew to see significant success beyond Roblox, more and more interested parties are beginning to explore acquiring Roblox games and trying to grow …
How to Prepare Your Roblox Game for a Sale or Investment Round Read More »
A lot goes into creating and selling a physical product. The product and packaging has to be designed. Then the product needs to be manufactured (and maybe marketed). Finally, the product needs to be shipped and distributed to customers. Sometimes, a third-party merchandise company will handle the process. Other times, a developer or creator (who …
Hidden Legal Risks When Dealing with Physical Games and Merchandise Read More »
There’s a common assumption in game development that “legal” lives somewhere off to the side of production. In practice, the legal risk profile of a game is often a mirror of its production discipline. When milestones slip, scope drifts, roles blur or documentation disappears, companies can be exposed on multiple fronts. Production risk and legal …
What is a Co-op, exactly? “Co-op” is shorthand for “workers’ cooperative”, meaning a business owned and democratically controlled by its workers. That usually amounts to shared profits, shared management, and in theory, improved work conditions by virtue of that representation at the management level. Practically speaking, a workers’ cooperative can be formed under various legal …
Why You May Not Want A Co-op, Even If You Think You Do Read More »
Odin Law and Media is excited to welcome Ryan Fairchild back to the firm! Ryan Fairchild, Attorney Ryan’s practice focuses on video game developers and content creators. His passion for video games derives from being a lifelong gamer, and he understands the cultures and dynamics of the gaming and entertainment industries and communities. He also …
A few years ago, contracts with artificial intelligence clauses felt novel. They appeared here and there in experimental projects, in creative projects where guarantees of “No AI” were desired, or in deals involving AI tools. Now, AI-related clauses are showing up routinely, even in agreements where AI is not the focus of the work at …