Hi everyone – here we are for another games law update…
Gambling:
Reports abounded that the UK’s Gambling Commission is considering extended British gambling regulation to cover social games. In fact, they just said they were keeping an eye on some kinds of social gaming – but the story does point again towards the convergence of games and gambling in some respects. I wrote an article for World Online Gambling Report about it – soon to be posted on Gamer/Law.
Mobile ratings:
TechCrunch goes through in some detail the problems with iOS App store ratings.
IP:
Japanese authorities have taken their first legal action to enforce a new law against modchipping.
The will-the-Xbox-360-be-import-banned-in-the-USA saga continues, with a number of US politicians lining up to oppose any legal move towards a ban (thanks, FOSS Patents).
An interesting WIPO article about how Marvel Comics have managed to achieve continued commercial
success through protecting its IP and make good use of licensing.
success through protecting its IP and make good use of licensing.
More on licensing IP: hit iOS game Fruit Ninja is moving into licensing.
Virtual goods:
South Korea is reportedly to ban at least some forms of virtual goods trading, apparently. I know very little about this matter, so keen for anyone who can shed light on this? Seems rather draconian at first sight.
Valve has appointed a full-time economist for its games.
Interesting from a virtual goods perspective, but not from a legal
perspective – I’m afraid I just included it due to pure Valve fanboyism!
Interesting from a virtual goods perspective, but not from a legal
perspective – I’m afraid I just included it due to pure Valve fanboyism!
Facebook is going to reduce its use of Facebook Credit by permitting users to purchase things using their local real currency as well as or instead of Facebook Credits. So much for my speculation that Facebook Credits could become an “international virtual currency” in the future. Well, actually that could still happen, but clearly it’s going to be a rocky road.
Lawsuits
Surprisingly light this month…!
Swedish developer Procloud is suing Paramount for $10m “for allegedly balking at a license agreement that would have given the
developers exclusive rights to develop games for seven of the motion
picture company’s films.“
developers exclusive rights to develop games for seven of the motion
picture company’s films.“
Microsoft wrote to some sites demanding the takedown of leaked Xbox 720 documents. Which just goes to show again: if you publish leaked documents which are clearly confidential, expect to get sued, or at least turned off. Posting on the Internet doesn’t magically give you immunity from suit.
Other:
Blizzard continued to have difficulties in South Korea over Diablo 3, including great interest by consumer protection regulators over the difficult launch period. Partly in response, it has offered consumers a refund.
I had my monthly fun on Edge. This month’s column: “the truth about videogame lawsuits“.
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