The prevailing consensus emerging from Google’s landmark antitrust case is that significant shifts are on the horizon for the tech giant’s app store business. This comes after a jury decided this week, marking a first for this century, that a large tech company had infringed upon US antitrust laws. The detailed coverage of the event…
The year 2023 marked significant antitrust battles resulting from the Federal Trade Commission’s increased scrutiny under the leadership of Chair Lina Khan. Several transformative corporate deals drew the attention of regulators, causing concern among companies attempting to merge or acquire others. The regulatory landscape was marked by slow progress, abandoned deals, and a fair share…
In a noteworthy development, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, a widely respected “Big Four” Japanese law firm, has taken on the task of advising Toyo Construction, a marine construction firm listed in Tokyo, as it seeks to fend off an unsolicited buyout offer. The offer, an $833 million bid, has been put forward by Yamauchi-No.10 Family…
In an unusual industry move, Microsoft Corp. is in the process of transitioning a group of its subcontracted temporary staff into unionized positions. This decision expands the grasp of organized labor within one of the world’s largest software companies. According to an article by Bloomberg Law, the primary focus of this action will be in…
Online retail giant Amazon recently filed a lawsuit against what they have referred to as an international ring of thieves, alleging that they have swindled millions of dollars from the company through various refund scams. At heart, these scams involved purchasing products on Amazon and subsequently requesting refunds without returning the purchased goods. Bloomberg reports…
On the 3rd of September, 2023, the United Arab Emirates took a significant leap toward the modernization and regulation of its commercial gaming sector. Revealing plans to establish the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), this decision represents a far-reaching response to the burgeoning industry’s demand for an advanced legal framework. The GCGRA is set…
The expanding landscape of online sports wagering, with its regulatory challenges and areas of concern, notably the increased risk of gambling addiction, were the central theme of the latest episode of the Regulatory Oversight podcast. Featuring special guests Pat Moore and Jared Rinehimer from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s (AG) Office, the in-depth discussion ran the…
Intellectual Property (IP) protection of featured characters in both digital and physical media is a complex and continually evolving game. A recently publicized case, In re Joseph A. Stallard (dba Osgoode Media), demonstrated a fresh perspective upon registration of character images in connection with video games as trademarks. In its ruling, the Trademark Trial and…
The gaming industry, particularly in areas such as player experience and content generation, is being transformed by the advent of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This was the primary topic of discussion in a recent podcast hosted by Mary O’Brien, featuring special guests Gary Greenstein, a technology transactions partner at Wilson Sonsini, and Tiffany Georgievski,…
Massachusetts has taken a significant step in data privacy regulation with its application in the sports betting industry. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved data privacy regulations under the 2022 Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act earlier this fall. The move, while targeted at a specific segment of companies, indicates broader potential implications. The restrictions set under the…
The gaming sector, similar to various other industries, has confronted its fair share of challenges this year, notably the struggle to secure critical funding for startups. As reported by Foley & Lardner LLP in their recent article, Pitchbook has just published its Q3 2023 Gaming Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of VC trends and…
In a somewhat unusual development in copyright law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently overturned a dismissal of a copyright infringement lawsuit. This case is noteworthy because it deals with the infringement of a copyright on choreography, an area not often broached by the courts. The lawsuit, Hanagami v. Epic Games,…
Coming up in the legal calendar on February 7th, 2024, is a key event for legal professionals working with open source software. Organized as a hybrid event, “The Law and Business of Open Source Software” will be held in New York, NY. Click here for more details. Save the date as the event serves to…
Rec Room, Inc., the creators of the popular Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) video game Rec Room, recently initiated a lawsuit against one of its players in a federal court in Washington state. This legal action follows allegations of the player violating the company’s terms of service by disseminating discriminatory content on its platform and proactively…
In a significant development for the gaming and hospitality industry, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has reportedly reached a $6.8M settlement with an operator of MGM Springfield, a notable MGM resort and casino. This case highlights an alleged violation of the Massachusetts Wage Act, Minimum Wage Law, Overtime Law, and the state’s Earned Sick…
In a development that many in the professional law community have been closely following, the United States Supreme Court denied a request to extend the stay ordered in West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland on October 25, 2023. The ruling has vital implications for the Seminole Tribe’s sports betting plans in Florida. The decision has…
As we delve into the key events of October 2023 in the legal field, it’s impossible to overlook the monthly meeting of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). Conducted on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, this crucial gathering represented a fusion of in-person engagement and remote participation options. The meeting was orchestrated both physically at the hub…
In a surprising turn of events, a California Court of Appeal has applied English common law to settle a dispute over a gambling debt. This landmark decision is notable as it resurfaces the debate around the historical adoption of English common law in California, a state that was never under English colonial rule. Tak Chun…
On October 25, 2023, the Supreme Court declined a request by two Florida-based casinos to halt a prior decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that permitted a Native American tribe to accept online sports bets. This request was part of a larger effort by the casinos to secure…
In a recent decision, the US Supreme Court declined to suspend a controversial agreement that, according to a Florida gaming company, grants tribal entities an exclusive hold on online sports betting in Florida. The refusal of the Supreme Court to block this deal highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding gambling rights between gaming operators and…
Boies Schiller Flexner has announced the addition of three new partners to its roster – Mark Brnovich, Joshua Stein, and Benjamin Waisbren. This move aligns with the strategic growth of the law firm. According to a recent announcement, Mark Brnovich, a former Attorney General for Arizona, will be based in Los Angeles, and he will…
The Supreme Court of the United States recently issued a temporary stay on an order that backed the state gaming compact that gives exclusive sports betting rights in Florida to the Seminole Tribe. Such a decision comes amidst a tangle of legal disputes and holds potential impacts for the booming sports betting industry, regulators, gaming…
In an increasingly competitive and bustling online gaming industry, the successful operation of platforms such as Rival Games can hinge on not just their trade secret technology’s value, but also the public’s recognition of and loyalty to their brand. Hence, it is no surprise that trade secrets and trademarks play a pivotal role in the…
The U.S. Supreme Court has recently intervened in the ongoing dispute about sports betting in Florida. This has inevitably generated many questions for corporate legal practitioners with interest in tribal law, gaming law, and federal-state relations. On Oct. 12, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered a stay on the District of Columbia Circuit’s ruling in West…
In a significant recent development, Microsoft Corp.’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc., valued at $69 billion, has received approval from the UK competition watchdog. This clearance has removed one of the last major global regulatory obstacles preventing the completion of what is set to be the gaming industry’s largest ever deal. The transaction had…