Deep Dive into Draft Rules that Crashed China Game Stocks
On December 22, 2023, China’s National Press and Publication Administration (国家新闻出版总署) (the “NPPA”) released for public comment a draft of the Online Game Administrative Measures (网络游戏管理办法) (the “Draft Measures”), which included spending limits and prohibitions...
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FTC Calls on Game Industry to Level Up COPPA Compliance
On June 5, 2023, technology giant Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) settled with the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) for a staggering US$20 million over violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). The settlement stems...
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When Do Money Transmitter Rules Apply to Blockchain Games?
Most video games rely on in-game virtual economies to incentivize player engagement and facilitate the exchange of in-game items. But virtual economies that extend beyond the boundaries of gameplay and into real-world financial markets may...
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Does Your Blockchain Game Loot Box Constitute Gambling?
Traditional web2 video games, or off-chain games, that feature loot boxes have frequently been accused of constituting a form of illegal gambling. Most US courts have ruled that gambling requires the possibility of earning rewards...
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Clone Games on Trial: What U.S. Copyright Law Protects
Video games are complex works of art that combine abstract ideas such as gameplay and functions with expressive elements such as music, scripts, plots, art, characters, and source code. However, copycat games that imitate and...
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Trends in China Game Approvals: The New Normal
Over the past four months, the National Press and Publication Administration (国家新闻出版署) (“NPPA”) issued four batches of domestic game approvals covering 345 games, and two batches of foreign game approvals covering 71 games. Although the...
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Is Your Blockchain Game Digital Asset a Security?
Investment in blockchain games persists, but developers face a fragmented, confusing, and ill-defined US regulatory environment. Absent comprehensive digital assets legislation from Congress, US federal and state agencies have been tasked with adapting existing legal...
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Mobile Platform Rules on Blockchain Games Remain Unclear Despite Updates – But Popular Mobile Blockchain Games Provide Clarity
Apple Inc. (“Apple”) and Google LLC (“Google”) dominate the global game market by offering the most used app stores in the world. However, Apple and Google’s developer rules require user transactions to occur within their...
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WOW vs TikTok – The New Data Wars
On January 23, 2023, the license agreement between Activision Blizzard, Inc. (“Activision Blizzard”) and NetEase Inc. (“NetEase”) with respect to the publication of multiple online games in mainland China will expire, ending a 14-year partnership...
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