The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides the main mechanism for how a Copyright Holder can take down online content and materials that infringe upon their copyright. The Basics of the DMCA Specifically, the DMCA provides a safe harbor in connection with third-party uploaded materials on their site that infringes the copyright of others by …
“It doesn’t matter what language they speak, it doesn’t matter what walk of life [they’re] from . . . they all have the same shared interest and passion [in this community].”— John Choi, on the Fighting Game Community In an era when many corners of the esports industry are freezing over, the fighting game community …
Fighting Game Community: Grassroots Resilience Amid an Esports Winter Read More »
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 …
Fanart for Sale: Navigating Copyright and Trademark Risks Read More »
As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into creative workflows, content creators face a growing need to formalize their internal practices. Even when AI-generated content doesn’t appear in the final product (and the prevailing sentiment among creators generally leans against its use in finished work) most creators or their teams are leveraging AI tools at …
Why Every Creator Needs an AI Policy for Their Team Read More »
One of the most common concerns VTubers have is what intellectual property rights and protections they need to be aware of. We previously wrote briefly about intellectual property rights in VTuber avatars in our “VTubers: Avatars, Anonymity, and Agencies” blog post and about ownership over avatars in Corpo VTuber and Agency relationship in our “Legal …
VTuber IP 101: Protecting Avatars, Content, and Branding Read More »
Reaction videos, in which creators capture and share their responses to content such as video games, music, viral trends, and movies, have emerged as one of YouTube’s most compelling and popular genres. In fact, recent studies reveal that over half (54%) of YouTube viewers prefer watching creators react to events rather than viewing the original …
Reaction Videos and Their Copyright Implications Read More »
The content creation space has grown and matured in the last several years. A recent Interactive Advertising Bureau study found that the number of people with full time jobs as content creators in the U.S. jumped from 200,000 in 2020 to 1.5 million in 2024. The economy of creators now accounts for 18% of the U.S. …
After months of anticipation, the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) has published the second part of its three-part report on the copyright issues raised by artificial intelligence (AI). Titled “Copyrightability,” this part focuses on whether AI-generated content is eligible for copyright protection in the U.S. The key takeaway? AI-generated works can be eligible for copyright protection—if …
In the world of VTubers, content creators who use animated avatars as their online persona, there is a distinction between independent VTubers who (as the name suggests) operate independently and “corporate” or “corpo” VTubers who are part of a VTuber agency. In exchange for a certain percentage of their profits, corporate VTubers may receive promotional …
Legal Relationships and Agreements for Corporate VTubers Read More »
The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster for the games industry, with significant layoffs and economic challenges dampening spirits. However, 2025 brings a sense of optimism. Many have managed to “survive to 25.” The industry is poised for recovery, with growth opportunities across emerging markets, cultural shifts, and technological advancements. Political uncertainty may …
The Games Industry in 2025: Our Optimistic Perspective Read More »