Well, it’s safe to say that 2020 didn’t go in a way any of us could have easily predicted. We made some solid guesses on what might happen in 2020 and in 2019 but most of our predictions got derailed by the pandemic. That being said, here’s our thoughts and predictions on 2021 as the …
The Big Tech-shielding principles of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (C.D.A.) have made their way into the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), despite some opposition in Congress. Section 230 of the C.D.A. has been credited as the catalyst for creating America’s multibillion-dollar online industry and christened as “the law that built the internet.” Yet, despite …
As 2019 is coming to a close, businesses are bracing themselves for California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which will take effect at the start of the new year. The act’s passage in 2018, coupled with Europe’s GDPR, teed up a slew of legislation in state general assemblies aimed at protecting residents’ personal information. As businesses …
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 …
How do I keep my influencer (and my company) out of trouble with the FTC? Read More »
Libel is complicated and often difficult to litigate; however, it is one of the few ways speech is allowed to be restricted under the First Amendment and, in my opinion, has produced some of the most interesting court opinions in American jurisprudence. A few of my favorites include Evel Knievel bringing a defamation suit against …
In 2018, we had a lot of new ground covered in the video game industry from a legal perspective. Here are some of the most notable, influential stories in case you missed them: Studio Closures & Snafus More than a thousand jobs have been lost in the video game industry in 2018 alone – and …
Back in May, Valve changed its content policy to crack down on visual novels containing adult content. Just a few weeks later, Valve again changed its policy to allow anything that isn’t “illegal” or “straight-up trolling.” This led many developers and consumers down a rabbit hole of questions surrounding what Valve’s role should be in …
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which has effectively banned sports betting for the last 25 years. PASPA did not ban sports betting directly. Instead, it prohibited the 49 states with bans or limitations from modifying or repealing them. This distinction was PASPA’s downfall. …
Supreme Court strikes down ban on sports betting – what about esports? Read More »
COPPA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, is a law that was created to protect the privacy of children under 13. The Act was passed in 1998, took effect in 2000, and then it was updated in 2013. There are a lot of misconceptions about COPPA so let’s address a few of them and how …
What is COPPA and how does it affect my game company? Read More »
As a consumer, it’s important to read a license before signing it whenever possible. As a business offering a license, it’s even more important to understand what is being offered. A license is there to help business set terms of the relationship with the users of a product. Here’s a quick overview of a few …
An overview of licenses: shrink-wrap vs. click-wrap vs. browse-wrap licenses Read More »