You've Been Served: The Legal Effects of Games as a Service (GaaS)
In recent years, there has been an increase in putative class actions alleging that game developers, game publishers, and even platforms should be liable for alleged harms flowing from loot boxes in mobile or other electronic...more
The findings of the UK's Immersive and Addictive Technologies Inquiry may significantly impact the economics of video game companies. Executive summary - On 12 September 2019, the UK government's Digital, Culture, Media...more
Recently, there has been a frenzy of legal activity with U.S. gambling laws and the number of gambling-related legal issues with video games. U.S. gambling laws have changed more in the past few years than they have in a long...more
The flurry of proposed legislative activity around loot boxes continues. State Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South Saint Paul) introduced H.F. 4460in Minnesota this week. H.F. 4460 would prohibit game purchases that result in random...more
As we have previously reported, the subject of loot boxes has received increasing scrutiny around the world. In one of the most recent pronouncements, the Dutch Gambling Authority (the “Authority”) declared the loot box...more
Virtually every significant gaming operator in the United States has some form of “free to play” online casino offering. Because no purchase is necessary to play (no consideration) and no valuable prizes are offered (i.e.,...more
Apple’s App Store rules now require app developers to disclose the odds of receiving items from in-game “loot boxes” prior to giving players a chance to purchase the boxes. This is the first time a U.S. gaming platform has...more
Apple just announced a number of changes to its App Store Review Guidelines, including the requirement that apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the...more
A member of the United Kingdom’s Parliament has opened an inquiry into the legality of loot boxes. Loot boxes are virtual items that may be redeemed to receive a randomized selection of additional virtual items. Various...more
For many of us, the term virtual reality conjures images from popular culture, such as the gleaming techno-world in the Tron films or the hyper-realistic environment in The Matrix and its sequels. Or it may make us think of...more
A weekly wrap up of interesting news about virtual worlds, virtual goods and other social media. In This Issue: - Kabam Hits Profitability in 2012 on Revenue of $180 Million - Maryland attorney general launches...more
Since the early days of online games, 'virtual goods' have been used to enhance game play and to provide revenue to game developers. These are earned by accomplishing tasks or bought from the developer, typically for use in...more