The digital age has ushered in innovative forms of entertainment and commerce, including through the development of in-game economies. In recent years, the digital landscape of gaming has expanded beyond mere entertainment,...more
Mark April 4, 2024 in your calendar – it is the day that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) set its sights on the video game industry. The CFPB issued a Report this week entitled "Banking in video game and...more
On April 4, the CFPB published a new Issue Spotlight, titled “Banking in Video Games and Virtual Worlds” that analyzes the increased commercial activity within online video games and virtual worlds and the apparent risks to...more
Welcome to the Class Action & MDL Roundup, our quarterly review of decisions and settlements in the class action arena. In this edition, student-athletes win an NIL round, Canadians in California isn’t personal...more
App developers who pay 30% commission fee to Apple via In-App Purchasing should take note of an important legal decision recently presented to the Supreme Court for possible review. The Supreme Court’s decision whether to...more
On April 24, 2023, the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion in Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., and affirmed the trial court’s ruling in Apple’s favor as to Epic’s Sherman Act claim for restraint of trade relating to Apple’s...more
On March 14, the FTC finalized an administrative order requiring a video game developer to pay $245 million in refunds to consumers allegedly tricked into making unwanted in-game purchases....more
The rising prevalence of crypto and virtual currencies has invited the scrutiny of several regulatory bodies who continue to grapple with the unique challenges posed by blockchain technology, FinCEN being one prime example....more
Despite all of the artistry that goes into making a game, at some point early in the development process the question must be asked, “How are we going to make money?” And with the ever-growing cost of developing modern games,...more
"In a world where teens are restricted from driving, voting, and making other decisions regarding their autonomy, why does the assumption exist that they can properly manage their own data privacy?" asks the Better Business...more
FTC Shines Light Inside ‘Dark Patterns’ - Move over cookies, fingerprinting, ad trackers—there’s an old species of internet chicanery in town - Everything Old … It’s hard to find a nongovernmental clearing house filled with...more
Google Bests Consumer Class Action with Section 230 Defense - But district court leaves door open for an amended complaint - Four Americans = 12 Opinions - The tsouris invoked by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act...more
Consumers Sue Mobile App Maker Over Loot Boxes - Supercell singled out for creating a gambling space for youngsters - Too Old for This - We need a minute. Just a minute. Our heads are throbbing. We just got through looking at...more
Back in August of last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a workshop on video game loot boxes, which, for all you non-gamers, is a video game microtransaction in which an individual playing a video game purchases...more
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) issued a new labeling requirement for games containing “loot boxes” in April 2020. As discussed in more detail below, these games must be labeled with “In-Game Purchases...more