If you are engaged in esports at any serious level, you need an esports attorney like the ones at Revision Legal.
Consider just the issue of intellectual property. Intellectual property, of course, covers rights related to trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. These are related to the way in which you play — such as your player tag, username, etc. — the unique methods in which you play and livestream, the esports teams to which you belong, etc. As many know, IP rights — particularly trademark rights — can be very valuable and, indeed, are often the most valuable assets owned by small businesses. And, to be clear, if you are serious about your esports, you are running a small business with yourself as the main talent and asset. The value of your IP must be enhanced and protected, and only a competent legal team can ensure that.
An esports lawyer with experience in intellectual property will help protect and enforce your property rights and also help you avoid violating the IP rights of others. The second part is just as important as the first. If, for example, you are considering trademarking a gamer tag or some other unique aspect of your esports gameplay, you need help with your trademark search to make sure your proposed trademark is unique. Uniqueness is one of the legal requirements for registration of a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A good esports trademark lawyer will also make sure that the other legal requirements for registration are met.
Esports lawyers are not just for players. Those involved in all layers of the esports ecosystem have legal needs. These include:
- Teams
- Organizers
- Tournament operators
- Developers
- Tournament and conference sponsors
- Advertisers
- Streaming platforms
- Content creators and live streamers
- And more
Other legal services provided by esports lawyers include:
- Copyrights — copyright law protects original works of art, which developers might include in their game,s such as original stories, characters, music, and other creative works
- Patent Protection — patent law can protect the “structural” aspect of esports games for developers and others who might be able to modifythe game through coding and other technological methods
- Review and negotiation of contracts and agreements — like most of the modern economy, esports “runs” on contracts; this might be related to teams, sponsorships, name, image and likeness endorsements, vendor and supply agreements, and more; all of these must be reviewed and negotiated; your esports legal team can get it done
- Protection of IP assets — this involves monitoring the marketplace for violations of your IP; when discovered, action must be taken, including such things as sending cease and desist letters; likewise, your talented lawyers can “push back” against false claims of IP infringement
- Litigation and negotiated dispute resolutions — sometimes, to “win,” you have to fight; litigation is one way, and a willingness to file lawsuits can also help with negotiated dispute resolutions
- Licensing — as noted, your IP is valuable; under some circumstances, the IP can be monetized; good lawyers can help with the licensing agreements
Contact the Esports Attorneys at Revision Legal
For more information, contact the experienced Esports Lawyers at Revision Legal. You can contact us through the form on this page or call (855) 473-8474.
