Video Game Law

Don’t Lose Your Game Forever: How Clawbacks Can Help Preserve Rights in Publishing Deals

In game publishing, and especially in game publishing agreements, clawbacks are safety valves that can keep intellectual property from being locked away and lost to history. What Is a Clawback in Licensing? In the world of intellectual property licensing, a “clawback” refers to a contractual mechanism that allows a party to take back rights or …

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Legal Challenges and Industry Predictions for Games in 2026

As 2025 closes, the games industry enters another year shaped by shifting economics, rapid advances in technology, and a volatile political climate. Last Year: We Got Some Stuff Wrong, Some Right Last year’s predictions focused on structural pressure points rather than specific outcomes. Many of those pressures materialized, though often faster and more unevenly than …

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Introducing the Game Studio Funding Playbook: A Legal Roadmap for Studios Preparing for Investment

The funding landscape for video games has shifted significantly in recent years. After a period of accelerated growth during the pandemic, the market moved toward more conservative investor behavior: tighter capital, deeper diligence. Studios now face a funding environment where legal readiness and clear organizational structure matter more than ever. To support teams approaching these …

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Open Source Licenses in Game Development: What Studios Need to Know

From tools and engines to libraries and assets, open source software plays a powerful role in game development. But not all open source licenses are created equal, and failing to understand the rules can lead to unintended obligations or risk to proprietary work. Below is a breakdown of the most common open source license types, …

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When Friends and Family Fund a Game: Keeping It Legal and Clean

Game development often starts with passion before profit. Many early projects rely on informal funding from friends or family. That support can make a dream possible, but it is also subject to some legal and regulatory requirements. And, it can create tension if the project takes off or fails. A handshake deal that seemed fine …

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Revenue Share in Game Development

Many people know that when video games are published, revenue share (often called royalties in that context) may be shared between the involved parties. However, revenue share arrangements often exist for collaborators or even service providers to equitably divide the fruits of their labor, especially when cash compensation may not be available at the outset …

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What Creators Need to Know Before Running a Promotion

Promotional giveaways and contests have become some of the most powerful engagement tools for creators and brands across social media. Their popularity stems from results that are difficult to ignore: giveaway posts can generate up to 64 times more comments and 3.5 times more likes than standard posts, and 91% of all posts with over …

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LLC vs Corporation for a Game Studio: What Every Developer Should Know

Choosing the right legal entity is one of the earliest and most important decisions for a new game studio. The choice often comes down to two common structures: the limited liability company (LLC) or the corporation. Each offers benefits and drawbacks that can shape how a studio grows, raises money, and protects its founders. LLC: …

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