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Video Game Law Blog
Current issues in video game law.
| In its December issue, the National published the results of its nationwide survey on the best Canadian law firm websites. The survey involved a panel of nine legal technology professionals who ranked... [read more]Tuesday, 15 December 2009 | Josie Morello |
| Wow, talk about litigious. In an earlier posting we reported about gamer-turned-litigator, Erik Estavillo. He sued Nintendo because he says a Wii update that limits cheating is "interfering with... [read more]Monday, 7 December 2009 | Chris Bennett |
| Erik Estavillo, the same man who has previously sued Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), Microsoft and Nintendo, has allegedly filed another lawsuit in the Civil Division of the Superior Court... [read more]Wednesday, 2 December 2009 | Tania Da Silva |
| A study conducted by two Swiss human rights organizations, Trial and Pro Juventute, has reportedly found that some video games depict actions that would constitute violations to international human... [read more]Wednesday, 2 December 2009 | Karine Bellavance |
| Microsoft locks out aftermarket Xbox 360 memory units; Datel objects, launches antitrust lawsuit
Are you one of thousands of Microsoft Xbox 360 users that have recently purchased a third-party... [read more]Tuesday, 1 December 2009 | Ali Owaisi |
| Set to be the most successful video game of all time (according to press releases anyway), Activision paired up with retailers like Game Stop and Best Buy to ensure that shelves were fully stocked... [read more]Wednesday, 18 November 2009 | Sarah Dale-Harris |
| Folks in Russia weren't impressed with a scene in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 where a Russian terror cell shoots up an airport full of civilians. After threats of government bans or recalls,... [read more]Wednesday, 18 November 2009 | Chris Bennett |
| It has been reported that the class-action lawsuit opposing Take-Two and its shareholders has now been settled for $20 million. The dispute allegedly began when it was discovered that a sexual minigame... [read more]Monday, 26 October 2009 | Karine Bellavance |
| A lot, apparently, if you the Krabbits on your side.
Indie developer Krabbitsoft has done what some thought was impossible, developing and releasing an exciting, graphics-laden Action/RPG based... [read more]Monday, 26 October 2009 |
| Valve to issue heavily edited version to satisfy Australian censors
It appears that Australian fans of Valve's critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead survival horror franchise will have to miss... [read more]Monday, 26 October 2009 | Ali Owaisi |
| Interplay Entertainment Corporation ("Interplay") has reportedly obtained a ten day extension to answer a preliminary injunction filed by Bethesda Softworks LLC ("Bethesda") in... [read more]Friday, 23 October 2009 | Tania Da Silva |
| Ontario tries to show you the money (but for how long?)
In these turbulent economic times, it has never been more important to take advantage of existing government programs and tax credits.... [read more]Thursday, 22 October 2009 | Ted Maduri |
| Jack Thompson, the famous anti-videogame cruisader who has been sued by video game publishers and was disbarred last year by the Supreme Court of Florida, has now sued Facebook for $40 million, claiming... [read more]Friday, 2 October 2009 | Chris Bennett |
| The banning of Valve's soon-to-be-released Left 4 Dead 2 has spurred debate in the land down under as to whether Australia should adopt a "R18+" rating for video games. Although "R18+&qu... [read more]Thursday, 1 October 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| California legislation prohibiting the sale of violent video games to minors may still have its day in the US Supreme Court. California legislators are hoping the big court will hear oral arguments... [read more]Thursday, 1 October 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| Former NFL player Jim Brown sued EA over its use of a character in Madden NFL. The character looks like Brown, but was not identified as Brown, and wore a different number.
A federal court judge... [read more]Thursday, 1 October 2009 | Chris Bennett |
| Venezuelan lawmakers have taken the first steps towards banning video games deemed excessively violent, in an attempt to reduce actual violence in the country. Reuters reports that a bill banning... [read more]Tuesday, 1 September 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| The game Brutal Legend featuring Jack Black as a heavy metal roadie fighting evil in a mythical world will be released in October 2009 now that a settlement has been reached in the litigation between... [read more]Friday, 14 August 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
In a counterclaim filed last week, game maker Double Fine Productions allegedly accused Activision Entertainment Inc. of trying to kill the scheduled October 2009 release... [read more]Thursday, 30 July 2009 |
| The Entertainment Software Association announced that they are suing the Chicago Transit Authority over the CTA's decision to ban all ads for "M" and "AO" rated video games... [read more]Wednesday, 29 July 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| The New York State Senate has passed a bill which bans texting, playing video games or surfing the Internet while driving, adding to the state's already in-force legislation that makes it illegal... [read more]Wednesday, 22 July 2009 | Meika Lalonde |
| Submitted by Dr. Andreas Lober
In an unprecedented case in German jurisprudence, the operator of an online game sued the provider of a bot software, and won. The court granted a cease and desist... [read more]Thursday, 16 July 2009 |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
On July 1, 2009, the bankruptcy judge in the Midway Games' Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings reportedly approved the $33 million dollar sale of most of the company's... [read more]Thursday, 9 July 2009 |
| It has been reported that Cupertino-based Apple is being sued for an iPhone video game entitled "ParkingLot". It has been alleged that this game, which requires players to move around cars... [read more]Monday, 6 July 2009 |
| Rockstar and its Grand Theft Auto franchise are no strangers to controversy (hot coffee, anyone?), but according to a recent report in the Times, the British Board of Film Classification investigated... [read more]Monday, 6 July 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| New Chinese legislation has banned the exchange of virtual currency for real goods and services and consequently, it bans the practice of gold farming. The legislation also outlaws the purchase of... [read more]Thursday, 2 July 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| A class action lawsuit claiming $5 million in damages has been filed by a San Francisco, California resident against Square Enix Inc. ("Square Enix"). The suit was filed on June 18, 2009... [read more]Thursday, 2 July 2009 | Josie Morello |
| Konami, who produces Metal Gear, has been sued in Japan by one of its employees. The employee claims she has been discriminated against, alleging that she was demoted and suffered a pay cut after... [read more]Monday, 29 June 2009 | Tudor Carsten |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
Threshold Entertainment, a Hollywood production company, reportedly filed a complaint and an objection to the proposed auction of Midway Games' assets in a U.S. bankruptcy... [read more]Monday, 29 June 2009 |
| It has been reported that Nintendo Co. has won the dismissal of a lawsuit instituted by Guardian Media Technologies Ltd ("Guardian"). It was reported that the Texas based plaintiff had alleged... [read more]Thursday, 25 June 2009 |
| The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in US federal court regarding the closure of an exhibit at the Sancturary for Independent Media. The exhibit featued the game "Virtual Jihadi",... [read more]Wednesday, 17 June 2009 | Chris Bennett |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
The legal dispute between Midway Game's unsecured creditors committee and its majority shareholder, Mark Thomas, over the company's bankruptcy has been settled.... [read more]Thursday, 11 June 2009 |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
On May 12, 2009, Midway creditors filed suit against former and current members of Midway's board, former major stakeholder Sumner Redstone, his daughter and former... [read more]Tuesday, 26 May 2009 |
| It has been reported that Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. ("Take-Two") has filed a lawsuit against Apogee Software Ltd. because of the developer's "continually delayed"... [read more]Tuesday, 26 May 2009 |
| Much criticism has been leveled at Canada regarding its copyright laws; however, the news isn't all bad. Following a six-month investigation, the RCMP and York Police, in a collaborative effort,... [read more]Tuesday, 19 May 2009 | Sarah Dale-Harris |
| Seattle based Big Fish Games who works with more than 500 game developers has acquired Vancouver based Grubby Games, the creator of Incredibots and Professor Fizzwizzle.
The acquisition of Grubby... [read more]Tuesday, 5 May 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| An interesting and complex case was reported on GamePolitics last week, alleging patent infringement as well as fraud, conspiracy and attorney malpractice against Sony, PDP/Electro Source and their... [read more]Monday, 4 May 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
Japanese video game publisher Konami has decided not to publish the controversial game Six Days in Fallujah, developed by Atomic Games. The game re-enacts the Second Battle... [read more]Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
| It has been reported that Empire Interactive, a U.K. based publisher of nearly two decades, is shutting down its operations. The closure has been announced to the employees located in its London offices... [read more]Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
| It has been reported that Scratch DJ Game ("Scratch"), a joint venture between Genius Products ("Genius") and Numark Industries, has filed a lawsuit against publisher Activision,... [read more]Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
| GamePolitics has reported that the NFL players who won a $28 million dollar lawsuit last year against the NFL Players Association are planning on suing John Madden and Electronic Art over the Madden... [read more]Wednesday, 22 April 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
On April 9, 2009 the Judge overseeing the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of Midway Games ruled that creditors of the video game publisher have permission to investigate and pursue... [read more]Friday, 17 April 2009 |
| A lawsuit by Fenner Investments Ltd. of Texas against Nintendo alleging patent infringement has been dismissed by U.S. District Court. Fenner claimed that Nintendo infringed a 1998 patent relating... [read more]Monday, 30 March 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| Jon Huntsman, Utah's governor vetoed HB 353, a bill which targets both movies and video games.
Hunstman stated:
"While protecting children from inappropriate materials is a laudable... [read more]Sunday, 29 March 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| Submitted by Karine Bellavance
In response to a printed ad released by the U.K. government, it is reported that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe ("Sony") is considering legal action... [read more]Sunday, 22 March 2009 |
| Submitted by Sylvie Lang
Rumours abound that Apple will launch a premium app store this week, at the same time as it unveils an updated iPhone operating system. The new "upscale" section... [read more]Friday, 20 March 2009 |
| PalTalk Holdings has instituted legal proceedings against Microsoft on the basis that Microsoft's Halo and Xbox infringe its patents related to "controlling interactive applications over... [read more]Wednesday, 11 March 2009 | Amanda Alfieri |
| Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand has decided to hold off on the implementation of the controversial Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act, until March 27, 2009. Section 92A of the Act requires... [read more]Monday, 2 March 2009 | Sarah Dale-Harris |
| More fun with patents! This time, Texas-based Wall Wireless LLC is alleging that Sony, Nintendo, and Nokia have infringed its patent with Sony's PSP, Nintendo's DS and Nokia's N81, N82,... [read more]Monday, 2 March 2009 | Michael Mjanes |
| Sylvie Lang
On Friday, February 20, 2009 a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled that a California law aimed at restricting the sale of violent video games to minors was unconstitutional. The ruling... [read more]Thursday, 26 February 2009 |
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