Continuing the exploration of fandom, and its associated legal snares, we turn to cosplay. Costumed play, cosplay for short, is the hobby, and sometimes profession, of dressing up as a character from fantasy, comics, tv, movies, video games, or any … Continue reading
Fandom is a huge part of the video game industry. From art to fan fiction, tattoos to cosplays, a truly dedicated fan can integrate games into every part of her life, and many of us have. As a cosplayer, artist, … Continue reading
ZeniMax recently challenged Oculus VR over unspecified technology used in the Oculus Rift. They claim that between John Carmack leaving id Software, a subsidiary of ZeniMax, to join Oculus and Oculus having access to ZeniMax technology in the early stages … Continue reading
A few months ago, Valve successfully defended a suit in Germany effectively ensuring that Steam users will not have the right to resell the games they own on Steam. Since users own the license to play the game rather than … Continue reading
The issue of who owns what can be a sticky one, particularly when talking about something intangible, like intellectual property. Ownership can be transferred in just a few phrases. Ownership can be shared. Ownership can be divided piecemeal between several … Continue reading
It’s been all over the news. The video game industry is having a problem with trademarks because the idea of ownership doesn’t seems to align well with the goals of creativity. This is particularly evident in the recent media coverage … Continue reading
Riot Games, creator of League of Legends, recently secured the patent for their spectator mode. The initial response was less than positive. Between King attempting to block the Banner Saga over trademark concerns and ongoing concerns over patent trolls, the … Continue reading
With the King candy trademark saga winding down, it’s an appropriate time to work through some developer reactions and their possible legal implications. Many took to the internet to voice their concerns, frustrations, confusion, and rage at the situation. Others … Continue reading
Employers benefit from the labor of their employees in many ways beyond the day to day tasks assigned that employee. Copyrightable work produced within the scope of employment belongs to the employer as work for hire. Any other intellectual property … Continue reading
Most app developers are well aware of the differences between the curated and heavily controlled market that is Apple’s iOS App Store and the Wild West-style free for all that is Google Play. Each has its charms, but Google often … Continue reading
