A Sport With An Ever-Growing Fan Base
Accompanied By A Host Of Legal Considerations
While gaming has always been a favorite human form of recreation, esports (electronic sports) has taken video games from a hobby to a competitive business. With the exponential growth in the category and immense progress we have seen in gaming technology, esports has gained hundreds of millions of fans across the globe. From titles like League of Legends to Call of Duty, the game genres with applications for esports growth are practically endless.
With so much fanfare around esports, we increasingly see the need for legal counsel to help stakeholders navigate what can be a complex yet opportunity-filled space. A lawyer is even more essential as the industry embarks on incorporating innovative technologies with potential application to the esports landscape, including the emerging metaverse and virtual reality in general.
From contract drafting and negotiation for premiere esports events and sponsorships to intellectual property matters, including copyright and trademark for live broadcasting and merchandising deals, at RICHT, we aim to provide clients with a full suite of legal services that aim to provide not only legal protection but also to maximize value. The esports’ stakeholders are equally as varied as the legal matters that arise. On the player talent side, agreements for team participation, endorsements, and sponsorships are common. For game developers and tournament organizers, contracts include those relating to the venue and players. In addition, regulatory and compliance review, especially for illegal gambling considerations, as well as IP protection and enforcement, are the mainstays of the esports legal practice. Regardless of whether our clients are a player, leagues, businesses, or some other stakeholders in the esports ecosystem, the same theme runs throughout the legal services we provide — a critical focus on delivering added value to clients beyond just legal protection.
Esports Law Services We Offer
• Legal Entity Formation
• Endorsements, Sponsorships, & Influencer Agreements
• NFT & Blockchain Regulatory Review
Esports Stakeholders We Serve
Esports Teams, Esports Leagues, & Esports Tournaments
Marketing & Broadcast Media Companies
Venues & Event Organizers
Brands
Players
Video Game Developers
Agencies & Management Companies
Investors
What They Do for a Living: The Right Of Publicity In Video Games & Movies
Why can a movie freely replicate the actions of an army bomb disposal expert while a video game cannot replicate the actions of a professional football player without getting permission?
The Legal Implications Of Esports' Ever-Growing Popularity
While many might dismiss esports as limited to Cheetos eating, Mountain Dew swirling, sweats wearing denizens of moms’ basements worldwide, there are clearly many complicated legal concerns associated with this rapidly expanding multi-billion dollar sector.
