Loot Boxes in Video Games (and Jordan vs. Kobe)
Doubling Down on Loot Boxes
5 Key Takeaways | The Maze of Laws, Rules, and Regulations at the Intersection of Gambling, Gaming, Sports Betting, and Fantasy Sports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has turned its attention to in-game currencies and purchases (commonly referred to as "microtransactions or "downloadable content"). On August 28, 2024, the CFPB followed up its...more
Welcome to Issue 4 of the Dorsey Legal Arcade, our newsletter chronicling legal developments impacting the video game industry. At Dorsey & Whitney LLP, we have a strong international practice and an interest in changes in...more
In August 2022, two professional e-sports players were charged in the Singapore District Court for corruption and illegal gambling offences committed during an e-gaming tournament in 2020. The case is notable for illustrating...more
Investors in technologies and services for the Metaverse hope that a significant portion of the existing lucrative electronic gaming market will migrate to Metaverse platforms. Game companies regularly rely on the sale of...more
On May 17, 2022, Plaintiff Y.H. brought claims against Blizzard Entertainment making two sets of allegations: first, that booster packs in the game Hearthstone constitute unfair competition or unlawful gambling; and second,...more
The Spanish government published last week the pre-draft bill of law on randomized reward mechanisms associated with interactive software products for entertainment (a subtle and technical way of referring to loot boxes in...more
[co-author: Avanthi Cole] Main Quest - How To Tell ROM From Right - As we review some of the more prominent legal issues that impacted the video game industry this past year and consider what 2022 may have in store,...more
Swamped Commission Gets Compulsory Life Preserver - Rising tide of merger filings cited to justify new compulsory process resolutions - Multi-Foci - After a 3-2 vote, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) approved...more
Whether it’s through mobile gaming or live streaming, young people are spending more time than ever participating in the virtual world. Yet, in-game chat functionality, online trolls, loot boxes and advertising are posing...more
In this episode of "Lawyers With Game," host Darius Gambino of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Video Gaming and Esports Practice sits down with the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Practice Leader Al Coleman to discuss various...more
In a press release dated 12 July 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore (MHA) announced that it is seeking feedback from the public on certain proposed amendments to the existing gambling legislation. The proposed...more
Welcome to Three Point Shot, a newsletter brought to you by the Sports Law Group at Proskauer. Three Point Shot brings you the latest in sports law-related news and provides you with links to related materials. Online...more
Happy Silver Anniversary to Section 230 of Communications Decency Act (“CDA” or “Section 230”), which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in February 1996. At that time, Congress enacted CDA Section 230 in response...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
The end of 2020 marked a major turning point for the video game industry on numerous fronts: The precipitous rise in popularity of — and participation in — esports (bolstered, in part, by stay-at-home orders due to the...more
Major Gaming Company Sued for Making Games Too Challenging - Loot Boxes plus in-game skill adjustments perpetuate addictive behavior? Don’t Hate the Playa - When does a pastime become an addiction?...more
Loot boxes have become a regular feature in many mainstream video games. However, while their popularity is clear amongst gamers, the legal issues and positions from regulators about their use, both in the US and abroad, are...more
The monetization of video game ecosystems is complex and loot boxes have come under scrutiny as publishers look for a continuous revenue stream. In video games, a loot box is a digital treasure chest that may be opened to...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
Millions of individuals across the globe stayed indoors for unprecedented periods of time during the second quarter of 2020, and many of them turned to gaming to connect and compete with strangers and friends. The shutdowns...more
Do video games need to be regulated under gambling laws? That’s exactly the direction things are heading. The United Kingdom’s House of Lords Gambling Committee recently issued a Report recommending that video games be...more
The allegations of gambling issues with games continues. Last week, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple relating to games in its App Store that include loot boxes. The complaint alleges that sale of such games are...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
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which administers the ratings system for video games, has launched a new warning label for use on video games that include in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums...more
Since Steve and Nick first explored the issue of loot boxes on this podcast, the world has taken note, and the loot box debate has exploded. In this episode, we cover the ensuing twists and turns in the loot box saga and...more