With the growing popularity of e-sports (multiplayer video-game sports competitions, often played by professional gamers for spectators–also stylized “eSports”), I’ve seen an increasing number of trademark disputes not only between video-game companies, but also between video-game companies and other non-electronics businesses selling physical goods or services. It is interesting to observe the arguments regarding bridging
“Let’s Play:” DMCA Takedown Notices and Game Developer Acquiescence
— Jessica Gutierrez Alm, Attorney
There is an entire gaming sub-culture developed around watching others play video games. I’m not talking about gathering around the Game Cube in your friend’s basement and passing the only controller. “Let’s Play” videos are game play videos made by players and posted or streamed online. The videos
Game Over for Nestlé? Atari Sues Over “Breakout” Kit-Kat Ads
For most of us, video games and candy go together perfectly, but that doesn’t mean they always get along. In fact, last week the “original” video game company, Atari Interactive, sued food and candy behemoth Nestlé in California federal court. What put Atari on tilt? It was Nestlé’s incorporation of the game play, layout, and
Microsoft’s New Battle: Toads
It isn’t often that Forbes and Arcade Sushi are reporting on the same story. But some news is so big, so ground breaking, and so important that all media outlets cannot, in good moral consciousness, fail to comply with their duty to inform the public. Obviously, I’m talking about Microsoft’s potential reboot of the Battletoads
EA Sports Gives Up Its Exclusive License to Make College Football Games
– Derek Allen, Attorney –
For many avid sports gamers, December 13, 2004 is a day that will live in infamy. On that date, EA Sports, makers of the longstanding Madden franchise, inked a deal with the NFL that would allow EA, and only EA, to produce video games depicting real NFL teams and players.
myBrand
Monday, November 9, 2010 marked the release of yet another title in the often controversial “Call of Duty” video game franchise and, with that, the release of controversial advertising. Of particular note is the below commercial featuring Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel in a no-holds-barred shootout meant to illustrate the experience of on-line gameplay.
Not
Virtual Opportunity
While salivating over the most recent installment to the Tiger Woods Video Game Franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, my mind began to wander towards product placement. I suppose it is a natural extension that a game which allows players to play “real” courses would logically allow players to purchase “real” apparel and equipment with