Skill-based real-money gaming is a growing industry worldwide. Previously, I wrote about the legality of playing casual games like Solitaire and bingo derivatives for real money. But what about console or PC games like FIFA ‘21, NHL ‘21, Madden ‘21, NBA2K21, and PGA2K21? Shooters like Call of Duty, CS:GO, and Fortnite? Strategy card games like…
Tag: gaming law
Esports. So Hot Right now: Advice from an Esports Attorney for Players and Teams.
Metro Detroit is uniquely poised to become the next epicenter of a growing industry: Professional competitive video gaming, or simply esports. An emerging and growing form of entertainment, the Michigan esports scene is rooted in its strong high school and collegiate programs. Professional esports actually had its first major metro Detroit debut August 2019, when…
FAQ: Can Playing Music on Twitch Get Me Sued?
Yes it can. As the popularity of internet streaming soars, content creators are encountering unique legal issues related to the media that they use. In June 2020, Twitch received thousands of so-called “takedown notices” under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) related to multiple archived clips that contain copyrighted music. The Recording Industry Association of…
So You’ve Designed a Board Game. Do You Need a Patent, Copyright, or Trademark?
Board games are still big business. Even before the pandemic limited entertainment options, the board game industry already accounted for $1.8 billion of sales in 2013 – or almost 10% of the entire toy market in the United States. In the first half of 2020’s lockdown, Hasbro reported a 4% increase in gaming revenue over…
Your Twitch Channel is Worth How Much? Protect Your Right of Publicity in the 21st Century.
Did you know that celebrities, professional athletes, actors, and other famous people have a valuable property right in their very persona? That property right is called the “right of publicity” and extends to gaming, particularly as streaming platforms like Twitch allow gamers to develop their own brand and following. There is no question that internet…
Fun Facts About the History of the World’s Oldest Hobby: Gambling.
For a change of pace, here is some short and fun reading about everyone’s favorite hobby – gambling. Whenever I do a gambling-related legal project or research, it amazes me how much time and effort has been spent by lawmakers across the United States regulating and restricting gambling in all its forms. And, it is…
Are Skill-Based or Pure-Skill Real Money Games Legal in the United States?
Skill-based, pure-skill, or simply real-money skill games are a hot new trend in the online gaming market. Games offered on mobile platforms like the iPhone and devices running the Android operating system are especially popular. Smartphones are everywhere, and in the United States alone an estimated 222 million people have smartphones, with 45 percent of…
A Lesson in Licenses and Why You Own Nothing.
In 2019, Fortnite went offline. No one could play, stream, compete, or access their account. This was part of an in-game “event” known as the Fortnite Blackout or The End. Can Epic Games do that? What rights do you even have as a player, team owner, or competitor? It all comes down to the End…