Dale Dietrich – Page 11 – Video Game Law Blog

Patent no. 6,999,083 provides for technologies that allow people to not just play video games against each other online, but to join the game as a spectator from anywhere in the world.

Dale’s Comment: Microsoft’s XBox 360 launch title Project Gotham 3 uses this technology. Note: I searched the U.S. patent website for under this patent number and could not find it.

March 3, 2006

Microsoft Patents Motion-Sensing Technology

A US patent was granted to Microsoft for a new method of spatial measurement. The setup proposed in the patent application can track an object’s path through 3D space using multiple-range cameras in a more accurate and consumer-friendly manner than has previously been available.

Source: Gamespot

March 2, 2006

NCsoft Sued in South Korea over Identity Theft

Lawyers in South Korea have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 230,000 victims of identity theft in an online game.

Source: Joystiq | TG Daily | VUNet | TelecomAsia | GamePolitics

March 2, 2006November 4, 2006

Yahoo! Gets Temporary Restraining Order As MForma CEO Speaks

A California judge filed a temporary restraining order prohibiting Mobile game firm MForma employees from using allegedly proprietary Yahoo! secrets.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz | Gamespot | GameDaily.biz

Other Video Game Trade-Secret Posts
Related Posts:

Yahoo! Gets Temporary Restraining Order as MForma CEO Speaks (March 2, 2006)
MForma Sued by Yahoo! Over Trade Secrets (March 1, 2006)

March 2, 2006

ELSPA Boss Blasts U.K. MP’s “utter nonsense” Violent Games Speech

U.K. MP Vaz had proposed an amendment to the Video Recordings Act 1984, which would make it mandatory for video games to receive content ratings in the same way that films do – a role currently fulfilled by the voluntary PEGI ratings system.

Sources: GameIndustry.biz | GamePolitics.com

March 1, 2006November 4, 2006

ASA Upholds Complaint Against Konami Advert

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against an advert for Konami title Crime Life: Gang Wars which claimed it exploited racial stereotypes and glorified violence.

Sources: GameIndustry.biz | Gamasutra | GamePolitics.com

Related Posts:

UK’s ASA Permits Controversial PSP Ads (June 21, 2006)
ASA Upholds Complaint Against Konami Advert (March 1, 2006)
Activision Ordered not to Show “Misleading” Call of Duty Ads Again (February 22, 2006)

March 1, 2006October 30, 2006

The Good News About Digital Distribution

Attorney Tom Buscaglia discusses some of the advantages of digital distribution for today’s video game developer – including higher profits, retention of IP rights and new funding models.

Source: GamaSutra Feature

Related Stories: GameIndustry.biz | CNet | Joystiq | 1Up.com

March 1, 2006

Japan Set To Enforce New Game-Related Electronics Restrictions

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry will begin enforcing a law concerning the sale of used electronic devices, beginning April 1st, in a move that is said by some to have significant effects on second-hand sales of older video game consoles or software.

Source: Gamasutra

March 1, 2006November 4, 2006

MForma Sued By Yahoo! Over Trade Secrets

Mobile game and entertainment firm MForma has been sued by Internet giant Yahoo!, which alleges that seven former Yahoo! employees now working at MForma are using trade secrets developed at Yahoo! in their work at the mobile game creator, according to an Associated Press report.

Other Video Game Trade-Secret Posts
Related Posts:

Yahoo! Gets Temporary Restraining Order as MForma CEO Speaks (March 2, 2006)
MForma Sued by Yahoo! Over Trade Secrets (March 1, 2006)

February 28, 2006March 17, 2008

Electro Source Follows Others and Settles Immersion Suit

Text of Immersion Patent
Following Microsoft, Radica and others, Electro Source, maker of Pelican video games accessories, settles with Immersion. The settlement covers past royalties and related legal costs in the quarter amounting to $250,000.

February 28, 2006

GamePolitics.com Launches a Google-map-based Video Game Legislation Tracker

The legislation tracker organizes pending, passed, or killed video game legislation throughout the U.S. It interactively highlights the name of the bill, its status, sponsors and other relevant information.

Source: GamePolitics.com

February 28, 2006

UK Game Pirate Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison

During a 2003 raid, more than 13,000 items were seized including pirate videotapes, CDs and DVDs. The pair had been selling pirate copies of games and film both online and from their store. They were charged with conspiracy to produce counterfeit product, with Forhad sentenced to serve 15 months and Ajad nine months.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz

February 24, 2006

Atari Epic Games, Valve, Sierra, SCEJ, SCEA and Sony Online Entertainment settle with iEntertainment Network for $175,000

Text of Patent
In December 2004 filed a suit against Atari, Epic, Valve, Sierra and multiple divisions of Sony, including Sony Online Entertainment. The complaint referred to an infringement of patent 6,042,477 (method of and system for minimizing the effects of time latency in multiplayer electronic games played on interconnected computers).

Sources: GameDaily.biz | Gamasutra | Next Generation

February 24, 2006October 30, 2006

Xbox Live Business Model Must Change, Before MMOs can Head to Consoles

Guild Wars developer Jeff Strain has said that the business model used by Microsoft’s Xbox Live service needs to be overhauled before the service will be attractive to MMOG developers.

Source: GameIndustry.biz

February 24, 2006

Atari, Edmonsdon Settle Unfair Dismissal Claims

The settlement follows a claim for unfair dismissal in the UK courts, and ended up in a significant payout of over $4 million, including $2 million in shares, to Edmondson.
Sources: Gamasutra | Gamespot

February 23, 2006March 17, 2008

Atari, Other Parties Settle Major AVG Game Patent ‘690 Suit

Text of ‘690 Patent
Major U.S. game publisher and developer Atari has released the paperwork surrounding its latest financials, and embedded within the document is significant news on the firm’s $300,000 settlement of the American Video Graphics video game patent lawsuit, a suit which other parties have now apparently settled.

Sources: Gamasutra | Next Generation | GameIndustry.biz | Gamespot | GameDaily.biz

February 23, 2006November 4, 2006

ELSPA Aids British GameCube Pirate’s Sentencing

A retailer was ordered to pay 3,310 pounds ($5,768 USD) in fines and serve 240 hours of community service for manufacturing and selling counterfeit games for all console systems after being apprehended by a joint operation of the ELSPA, Staffordshire Trading Standards, and the local police.

Source: Gamasutra

Other Piracy Related Posts:

February 22, 2006November 4, 2006

Activision Ordered not to Show “Misleading” Call of Duty Ads Again

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints from three television viewers that adverts depicting scenes from Activision title Call of Duty 2 and its current generation console counterpart CoD2: Big Red One were misleading, and declared that they must not be shown again in their present forms.

UK’s ASA Permits Controversial PSP Ads (June 21, 2006)
ASA Upholds Complaint Against Konami Advert (March 1, 2006)
Activision Ordered not to Show “Misleading” Call of Duty Ads Again (February 22, 2006)

February 17, 2006November 4, 2006

Japan To Introduce Revised CERO Ratings System

The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) in Japan is to implement a new ratings system for video games sold in the country, beginning from March 1st.

Sources: Gamasutra | Gameindustry.biz | Game Politics | Gamers.com

Related Posts:

Japan to Introduce Revised CERO Ratings System (February 17, 2006)
Second Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto III (September 20, 2005)
Japanese Retailers Enforce Restrictions on 18-Rated Games (July 19, 2005)
Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales (May 31, 2005)

February 17, 2006November 4, 2006

GMX Refutes Tesseraction’s Court Victory Claim

The two-year legal battle between GMX Media and Tesseraction Games appears not to be settled contrary to Tesseration’s claim.

Source: GameIndustry.biz

Other Royalty Dispute Posts
Related Posts:

GMX Refutes Tesseraction’s Court Victory Claim (February 17, 2006)
Tesseraction Games Claims Summary Judgment Victory Against GMX Media (February 8, 2006)

February 16, 2006November 4, 2006

Valve, IGA Resolve Controversy Over Counter-Strike In-Game Ads

Half-Life and Counter-Strike developer Valve and in-game ad firm IGA Worldwide have jointly announced a settlement of the behind-the-scenes legal issues that recently arose following the recent announcement of the IGA-powered Engage In-Game Advertising service.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz | shacknews

Related Posts:

Valve, IGA Resolve Controversy Over Counter-Strike In-game Ads (February 16, 2006)
Engage In-game Advertising in Legal Fight with Valve? (January 13, 2006)
Advertising in Games (November 11, 2003)

February 15, 2006February 27, 2008

China Cracks Down On Game-related Internet Cafes

The Chinese government has introduced new legislation setting tighter restrictions on Internet cafes and entertainment content, including video games, according to an Associated Press report. New regulations prohibit teenagers from entering Internet cafes or karaoke bars, deeming them unfit and potentially corrupting environments for students.

Sources: GamaSutra | GameIndustry.biz | 1Up.com | joystiq

February 15, 2006February 27, 2008

Australia Bans Marc Ecko’s Getting Up For Graffiti Crime

Australia bans yet another video game. The game was refused classification, meaning that it cannot be sold in Australia, in one of the more extreme classification decisions by the board in recent years

February 15, 2006

New Face of Laura Croft – Karima Adebibe

OK, OK, I acknowledge that this is not a legal news story – but can you blame me for covering it 🙂 ?

February 15, 2006November 18, 2006

Fair Treatment of Music and Composers in the Games Industry – A Personal Perspective

Game industry lawyer, Jim Charne discusses in-game music licensing and strategies. Music in games, as in motion pictures, consists of two components. These are licensed incidental soundtrack music, and underscore composed specifically for the project.

Source: GameDaily.biz Feature

Author: Dale Dietrich

Microsoft Patents Video Game Spectator Technology