Video Game Law
When does my game fall within the scope of COPPA?
United States federal privacy regulations are different for kids under 13 and compliance is really tough. Provided the game is not primarily targeted or advertised at kids, and a game studio has no knowledge of kids using it, it’s usually a simpler plan to just exclude them where monetizing through ads or otherwise collecting personally …
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Going Indie: legal considerations when leaving a game studio to form a new one
With the independence day holiday this month, there has been a lot of discussion of revolt and rebellion. One of the biggest acts of rebellion for an employee at an established game studio is quitting to start a new studio. Before Quitting A soon-to-be indie developer should carefully review employment agreements with their current company. …
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Virtual assets 102: money laundering regulations, virtual currency & virtual property
We’ve recently discussed the elements of virtual currency and virtual property in online games. But what types of regulations might apply to virtual goods and currency? There are some interesting ones that many game developers or publishers may not consider, but they should. Today’s post will cover one: money laundering regulations. It was reported in …
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Why are Twitch streamers receiving DMCA takedown requests?
This past weekend, Twitch streamers have received a large number of DMCA takedown requests for alleged music copyright violations in clips that were created in the past three years. Twitch, currently one of the largest video game streaming sites, is recommending that streamers delete any clips that have received takedown requests. 📢 This week, we've …
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Know your rights while protesting
In light of recent protests, I made the decision not to post this week about anything corporate, IP or video game related. Instead, I wanted to provide an additional resource to my friends and clients who may be out protesting. To those that are, I salute you and hope you are safe and heard. To …
Virtual assets 101: what is virtual currency?
We talked previously about virtual property – property that’s solely virtual in nature that isn’t tangible and has no real-world equivalent. One type of virtual property is virtual currency. So what is virtual currency? In this instance, we’re specifically discussing games, apps, platforms and other virtual economies. In many games, players can use real-world money …
Virtual assets 101: what is virtual property?
Virtual property can mean a lot of things in different situations. How is the purchase of virtual property regulated? What risks do developers and publishers face by including these kinds of transactions? This series will cover virtual property, virtual currency and the regulations behind these assets as this space continues to grow at a rapid …
Are non-compete agreements enforceable in the video game industry?
Non-compete agreements restrict employees from being able to go to work for competitors after leaving an employer, willingly or unwillingly. They are a standard practice across the board in the video game industry and are intended to offer protection for game developers, but are they enforceable? The short answer? Yes, for the most part. But, …
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How does a company protect kid’s COPPA rights?
As the majority of American schools have closed their doors because of the COVID-19 outbreak, children stuck at home are spending more time on social media and online games than ever before. If a company markets games or other content to children, it’s important to make sure they are in compliance with the applicable federal …