Category: Litigation

Gamer/Law’s ten 2012 predictions

You’ve guessed it: I thought I’d jump into the it’s-a-new-year-let’s-make-some-predictions business for 2012.  And, like all forward-looking predictions, I’ve mixed a few safe bets with some slightly more “punchy” predictions (which FYI is lawyer-speak for taking a massive bet on something!)  Here goes, in no particular order:

IP Round-up: Newzbin 2, Copyright Infringement and Stormtroopers

This is a post from Jonny Mayner with additional input from Jas Purewal.  The Star Wars’ theme to the post is the fault/genius of Jonny (depending on how you feel about Star Wars, ofc). This is a quick post looking back on some high profile IP cases in the UK on which we saw rulings in the… Continue reading IP Round-up: Newzbin 2, Copyright Infringement and Stormtroopers

Langdell Squared: Edge magazine v Tim Langdell

This is a guest post by Jonny Mayner.  Jonny Mayner spent most of his 20’s playing games and working in bookshops and the construction industry before getting down to the serious business of being a lawyer. He is currently a trainee solicitor at Osborne Clarke, soon to qualify and join the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation… Continue reading Langdell Squared: Edge magazine v Tim Langdell

The US violent games case: Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus

Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court handed down its decision in Brown v EMA, AKA the Californian ‘violent’ games law case, AKA Arnie vs all gamers, everywhere.  The law, if upheld, would have given lawmakers the ability to ban certain games and place stringent requirements on others. However, the US Supreme Court struck down the… Continue reading The US violent games case: Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus

Atari sues Tommo for $30m over Flashback 2 console

This is interesting:  Atari is suing Tommo Video Games Distribution in the US in a $30 million claim over the Atari Flashback 2, according to Kidscreen.  Details are very sparse at the moment but the allegation seems to be that Tommo is selling or distributing a counterfeit version of Atari’s Flashback 2 console, which I understand… Continue reading Atari sues Tommo for $30m over Flashback 2 console

The second virtual goods crime: is Runescape theft, theft?

The Dutch Supreme Court will be invited later this year to conclude that the theft of virtual goods from Runescape constitutes theft under Dutch criminal law; indications to date suggest that it may conclude that theft of virtual currency/goods IS criminal theft.  To my knowledge, this is only the second time that a Western court has… Continue reading The second virtual goods crime: is Runescape theft, theft?

More on Lodsys, apps and software patents

More interesting developments in the Lodsys/app developers spat (more on that here): now Apple has got involved.  Yesterday, Apple wrote to Lodsys asking it to withdrew its threats against a number of iOS app developers. You can read the full letter here. Apple’s arguments were three-fold: (1) The patent licences which Lodsys has granted Apple… Continue reading More on Lodsys, apps and software patents