Esports & Gaming

/Overview

Our team advises major players in the esports, gaming, and interactive media industries to navigate potential legal issues, stay ahead of the competition, and reach next-level success. With more than 30 attorneys across the United States and beyond, our Esports & Gaming practice group brings together legal experience across numerous practice areas critical to these industries. Our forward-thinking team understands all facets of this expanding international market and can confidently guide esports and gaming clients through a variety of potential legal issues.

We represent private and public companies around the globe as well as players and talent. Leveraging our collective experience, we look at the big picture, stay ahead of trends, navigate challenges, and proactively identify opportunities for our clients.

With our breadth of cross-industry experience, we advise clients on many related issues, including litigation, labor and employment, gambling laws and regulatory compliance, corporate transactions, influencer/player endorsement contracts, and intellectual property.

/Representative Experience

• Large Food and Beverage Management Company. Advised the client in its investment in an esports franchise and represented on an equity investment in a multi-house esports entity.
• International Virtual Reality Company. Drafting tournament rules, contractor agreements, and waivers.
• Stardock Entertainment and Valve Corporation: Represented video game developers and publishers Stardock Entertainment and Valve Corporation in a trademark and copyright infringement dispute involving Star Control: Origins, an action-adventure video game (matter settled)—Stardock Systems, Inc. v. Paul Reiche III, et al. (N.D. Calif.)
• Ironclad Games and Stardock Entertainment: Successfully employed a First Amendment defense to secure a victory on clients’ behalf of Ironclad Games and Stardock Entertainment in a trademark infringement matter related to the “Rebellion” mark—Rebellion Developments Limited et al. v. Stardock Entertainment, Inc., et al. (E.D. Mich.)
• Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.: Manage the worldwide trademark portfolio of Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., one of America’s top-ten largest video game companies; Bandai created Pac-Man, Tekken, Dragonball, and other familiar video game titles
• Gameloft S.E.: Represent French video game maker, Gameloft S.E., on all trademark prosecution work
• FreshPlanet: Represent FreshPlanet, a video game developer on trademark prosecution matters
• Fantasy Sports Provider: Represent fantasy sports content provider on various real estate transactions, litigation matters, and government regulatory inquiries across the country
• Various Gaming Companies: Advise various gaming companies on US regulatory compliance of their tournament rules, including drafting rules
• Global Esports Organization: Represent a global online platform focused on the esports industry on matters related to their online terms of service, privacy policy, and regulatory compliance
• Professional Basketball Organization: Represent a professional basketball team looking to acquire a stake in a multigame esports organization to assist in managerial duties around the brand, including a new rebrand to match the team’s colors, marketing, brand promotion, and sponsorships