In the Pokémon franchise of role-playing video games, players travel the world in search of hidden Pokémon. In recent litigation, the Pokémon Company International, Inc. (the Pokémon Company) undertook a similar quest: to...more
In case you don’t know, William Gibson is the prescient science fiction author who effectively coined the terms “the matrix” and “cyberspace” as we currently use them, way back in the early 1980s. He also predicted augmented...more
Today, when we think of trespass, our minds might go to a fenced yard with a prominent “No Trespassing” sign. Or, we think of the sit-ins of the 1960’s civil rights movement, when people of color were arrested after they...more
We are thrilled to bring you the third installment of Stinson Leonard Street's Emerging Trends newsletter. We are proud of the depth and breadth of experience and knowledge across our firm's 13 offices nationwide and are...more
Tongue-in-cheek references to Pokémon Go as a health App aside, maybe the tech industry is on to something. In the U.S., seven out of every ten deaths are due to chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease. Perhaps...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As OSHA’s enforcement relating to employee cell phone use gains more notoriety, it can be expected that it will have a significant collateral impact on law enforcement at all levels to address this hazard....more
In my previous blog, I discussed the perverse role new safe-driving technology plays in vehicles on the road today. In this blog, I discuss the dangers associated with what I call GWD (Gaming While Driving), specifically the...more
On June 27, 2016, in National Federation of Independent Business et al. v. Perez, et al., the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Lubbock Division) granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary ...more
There is something a little bit different about going back to school this year: your school is filled with Pokémon, awaiting capture by your students, employees, and visitors. By now, you are probably familiar with Pokémon...more
For years, we have been lamenting that our young people spend too much time indoors playing computer games and not enough time outside or connecting with others. Yet, those same critics now condemn young Pokémon Go players...more
Even as the initial furor surrounding the release of developer Niantic’s Pokémon-themed ap has subsided, the issues raised by the mass embrace of the augmented reality-flavored game continue to merit attention from lawmakers,...more
The new smartphone app, Pokémon Go, has taken the world by storm. This increasingly popular free game uses the GPS feature and camera of the player’s smartphone to capture creatures called “Pokémon” who appear on the user’s...more
There’s no denying it: Pokémon GO is a phenomenon. The smartphone game, in which players use their mobile device camera and GPS to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, was released in the United States on July...more
Pokémon Go is a location-based augmented reality game in which players use their mobile device to catch Pokémon in the players’ real-world surroundings by utilizing the camera, GPS, and gyroscope features of the mobile...more
This game has been all the rage since July. Engadget reports over 100 million downloads of Pokemon Go, racking up $10 million each day in revenue for game makers Niantic, The Pokemon Company and Nintendo. It’s a beast. ...more
It seems crazy to have to tailor office policy because of the advent of a new phone app, doesn't it? But this is exactly what is transpiring due to the overwhelming popularity of Pokémon Go, an app for your phone that allows...more
As my 11-year-old begs to borrow my mobile device to catch a Pokémon, I become one more Generation X member unwittingly joining the millions of millennials participating in an augmented reality game. For employers, Pokémon...more
The International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers (IAITAM) has issued a warning to businesses alerting them to the risks posed by employees downloading the Pokemon GO app on a company issued phone....more
Niantic Inc. (Niantic), developer of the mobile game “Pokémon GO,” was sued in Florida court on July 27, 2016. The named plaintiff, David Beckman filed the complaint against Niantic claiming the game’s terms of service and...more
The rising Pokemon Go sensation has dramatically increased the popularity of augmented reality games, but it has also brought with it increased risks and liabilities for both game users and developers alike. For those who...more
Hugely successful games attract lawsuits. Pokémon Go has been hugely successful and, predictably, has attracted a lawsuit. In a recently filed class action, a plaintiff has alleged that a number of the GPS coordinates...more
Noses buried in their smart phones, armies of Pokémon Go players scour neighborhoods in search of elusive cyber monsters lurking in real locations identified by the wildly popular game. Seeing a way to “lure” (in Pokemon Go...more
A recent CareerBuilder survey found that 24 percent of employees are using their smartphones for gaming while at work. This number is sure to be on the rise with the release of the Pokémon Go game. According to recent...more
2.7 Million Dollar HIPAA Settlement – Last week, Oregon Health & Science University (“OHSU”) agreed to pay $2.7 million to resolve potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996...more
As everyone is aware, the Pokémon GO craze has taken the world by storm in the past month. Reports estimate there have been over 75 million downloads of the digital game since the program became available on July 6. Apple...more