Dale Dietrich – Page 18 – Video Game Law Blog

A 22 year old Cambridge university graduate has become the first ever person in the UK to be convicted for the illegal modification of video game consoles, alongside more conventional game piracy charges, following a trial at Caerphilly Magistrates Court in Wales.

Source: Gamasutra | BBC | Pocket-Lint

July 4, 2005November 6, 2006

ELSPA Announces Counterfeit GBA Game Crackdown

The UK’s ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) has announced that a 40 year old Birmingham woman has been arrested for importing counterfeit Game Boy Advance cartridges and selling them on eBay.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz

June 27, 2005November 10, 2006

Sony Wins Injunction Against PSP Importer ElectricBirdLand

Online retailer ElectricBirdLand ordered to stop selling handhelds with immediate effect

Sources: GameIndustry.biz | Channel Register

Related Posts:

Sony Wins U.K. Lik-Sang Grey Market Case – Lik-Sang Shuts Down (Oct 20-24, 2006)
Sony Sues Online Retailer for PSP Sale (August 8, 2005)
Sony Wins Another PSP Import Case Against Nuplayer (July 20, 2005)
Sony Wins Injunction Against PSP Importer ElectricBirdLand (June 27, 2005)
Sony and UK Retailer in Dispute over PSP Trademark Issues (June 3, 2005)

June 8, 2005March 17, 2008

Chinese Gamer Sentenced to Life

A Shanghai online gamer has been given a suspended death sentence for killing a fellow gamer. Qiu Chengwei stabbed Zhu Caoyuan in the chest when he found out he had sold his virtual sword for 7,200 Yuan (£473).

June 8, 2005November 4, 2006

Handheld Games Sues Tiger Telemeatics, Makers of the Gizmondo Portable Gaming System

Handheld Games seeks $75,000 in damages saying that neither the promised Gizmondo development kits nor the final master license agreement ever arrived.

Source: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz | TVG | Ferrago

Related Posts:

Gizmondo Europe to be Liquidated (February 7, 2006)
Gizmondo Europe Files for Bankruptcy Re-Organization (January 23, 2006)
Gizmondo May Hand over Smart Adds Inc. to Repay $21m Debt (January 16, 2006)
Gizmondo Settles Jordan Lawsuit, Raises New Capital (September 7, 2005)
Handheld Games Sues Tiger Telematics, Makers of the Gizmondo Portable Gaming System (June 8, 2005)

June 7, 2005November 6, 2006

Xbox-Modding Retailers Plead Guilty to DMCA Violations

Several retailers in Maryland have pleaded guilty to selling modified Xboxes, called “Super Xboxes” by the group, thereby violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The maximum penalty for first-time violators of the DMCA is five years in prison along with a $250,000 fine.

Source: Gamasutra
Related Posts:

Maryland Video Game Pirate Sentenced (September 16, 2005)
Pandor’s Cube Pirate Sentenced (July 27, 2005)
Xbox-Modding Retailers Plead Guilty to DMCA Violations (June 7, 2005)

June 3, 2005November 10, 2006

Sony and UK Retailer in Dispute over PSP Trademark Issues

Disgruntled U.K. PSP retailer ElectricBirdLand responds to Sony Cease and Desist order instructing retailers to stop selling imported PSPs on the grounds that this infringes trademarks while Sony works to secure the rights to the PSP trademark in the U.K.

Sources: GameIndustry.biz | The Register | Channel Register | XBox Solution

Related Posts:

Sony Wins U.K. Lik-Sang Grey Market Case – Lik-Sang Shuts Down (Oct 20-24, 2006)
Sony Sues Online Retailer for PSP Sale (August 8, 2005)
Sony Wins Another PSP Import Case Against Nuplayer (July 20, 2005)
Sony Wins Injunction Against PSP Importer ElectricBirdLand (June 27, 2005)
Sony and UK Retailer in Dispute over PSP Trademark Issues (June 3, 2005)

May 31, 2005November 4, 2006

Japanese Prefecture Restricts Grand Theft Auto Sales

Officials from the Japanese prefecture (an organisation of local government roughly equivalent to a U.S. state) of Kanagawa have banned stores from selling or renting the game Grand Theft Auto III to anyone under the age of 18.

Sources: Gamasutra | Capcom’s June 8 Response

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)

May 18, 2005November 6, 2006

Play It Wins Injunction Against I-Play

In a passing off claim, UK publisher Play It has been granted an interim injunction against I-Play, preventing the firm – which previously operated under the name of Digital Bridges – from using its new company logo.

Sources GameIndustry.biz | Play-It’s Press Release | Practical Law Co. | Midlet Review

Related Posts:

Play It Wins Injunction Against I-Play (May 18, 2005)
Play it Applies for Injunction Against I-Play (April 18, 2005)
Play it Calls Lawyers over Digital Bridges Rebranding (April 8, 2005)

May 18, 2005November 6, 2006

Tecmo’s Nude Volleyball Lawsuit is More Dead than Alive

NinjaHacker.net reportedly settled with Tecmo. The case was dismissed, with leave to reinstate if the settlement is not finalized.

Sources: ars technica | Gamasutra | Wired

Related Posts:

Tecmo’s Nude Volleyball Lawsuit is More Dead than Alive (May 18, 2005)
Tecmo Sues Hackers Over XBox Game Modifications (February 9, 2005)

May 12, 2005November 9, 2006

Konami Files Lawsuit Against Roxor Over Dance Game

Dance Dance Revolution creator Konami has filed a complaint in the Eastern District of Texas against Roxor Games, Inc., asking the court to grant an injunction and damages against Roxor’s In The Groove dance game alleging trademark dilution, unfair competition and patent infringement.

Sources: Gamasutra | EuroGamer | GameIndustry.biz | Konami Press Release | Wikipedia Coverage

Related Posts:

Konami Settles with Roxor – ‘In the Groove’ IP Transfered to Konami (October 19, 2006)
Konami Files Lawsuit Against Roxor Over Dance Game (May 12, 2005)

May 9, 2005November 4, 2006

Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors

Under the new Manitoba law, a retailer who sells or rents a video game marked Adults Only to anyone under 18 can be hit with a fine of $5,000. Games marked Mature, such as the Grand Theft Auto titles, will not be available to anyone under 17.

Sources: CTV | Fradical.com | Manitoba Press Release

Related Posts:

No Complaints About Manitoba’s Video Game Law (September 19, 2005)
Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors (May 9, 2005)
New Ontario Video Game Retail Sales Law (March 14, 2005)

May 9, 2005March 17, 2008

Radica Settles Immersion Force Feedback Patent Suit

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

Source: Gamasutra

April 29, 2005November 1, 2006

Valve & Vivendi Universal Settle Distribution Dispute

The settlement provides for a complete severing of the publisher/developer link. Under VU Games is required to cease distribution of Valve’s games – up to and including Half-Life 2, and Valve properties developed by other companies, such as Counter-Strike Condition Zero – on August 31st.

Related Posts:

Valve & Vivendi Universal Settle Dispute (April 29, 2005)
Vivendi Barred from Distributing Valve Games in Cyber Cafes (November 29, 2004)
Valve and Vivendi Sue and Counter-sue Over Distribution Agreement (September 20, 2004)

April 21, 2005October 27, 2006

Bangladesh Government Warns Sony Over SOCOM Mention

According to Bangladeshi news reports, government officials in the country are threatening to serve Sony with a lawsuit, after the company described Bangladesh as a ‘terrorist state’ in the forthcoming game SOCOM 3.

Sources: Gamasutra | EuroGamer | GameIndustry.biz | Ferrago | GameSpot

April 18, 2005November 6, 2006

Play It Applies for Injunction Against I-Play

The Publisher formerly known as Digital Bridges faces legal battle over name change.

Source: GameIndustry.biz

Related Posts:

Play It Wins Injunction Against I-Play (May 18, 2005)
Play it Applies for Injunction Against I-Play (April 18, 2005)
Play it Calls Lawyers over Digital Bridges Rebranding (April 8, 2005)

April 13, 2005February 27, 2008

Australian Office of Film and Literature Bans NARC

The Australian distributor of Midway’s lurid ’80s arcade game remake NARC has announced that the console game has been refused classification by the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Sources: gamasutra.com | GameIndustry.biz

April 13, 2005

Alleged Game Pirates Nabbed in Nintendo sting

More than 60,000 pirated copies of Nintendo Co. game consoles were seized Wednesday during raids in New York and New Jersey, prosecutors announced.

Sources: MSNBC | Always On | Gaming Age | DreamStation.cc

April 8, 2005November 6, 2006

Play It Calls in Lawyers over Digital Bridges Rebranding

The Play It group has confirmed that it is seeking legal advice following Digital Bridges‘ decision to rebrand itself under the name ‘I-Play’. I-play is adamant that that it is not infringing Play-It’s Rights.

Sources: GameIndustry.biz | Gamespot | Guardian Unlimited | PGNX Media

Related Posts:

Play It Wins Injunction Against I-Play (May 18, 2005)
Play it Applies for Injunction Against I-Play (April 18, 2005)
Play it Calls Lawyers over Digital Bridges Rebranding (April 8, 2005)

March 31, 2005March 17, 2008

In-Game Virtual Property ‘Theft’ Lead to Fatal Attack

Shanghai gamer Qiu Chengwei killed player Zhu Caoyuan when he discovered he had sold a “dragon sabre” he had been loaned, while playing the online game Legends of Mir 3. Before the attack Mr Chengwei told police about the theft who said the weapon was not real property and took no action.

March 31, 2005

UK Government Plans Bigger Warnings For Games

The British government has announced that, after consultation with industry representatives, video games are to carry larger age symbols and descriptions of their content in “a bid to help parents understand what their children are playing”.

Source: Gamasutra

March 25, 2005March 17, 2008

Sony Appeals Immersion Suit, Wins Stay on Injunction

Text of Immersion Patent
Following the January decision against Sony in Immersion Corp’s lawsuit, which alleged that Sony had violated its patents on force-feedback mechanisms with the Dual Shock controller, Sony is appealing the decision to the Federal court.

Sources: Gamasutra | CNet

March 16, 2005March 17, 2008

Sony Plans New Legal Challenge to Mod Chips in Australia

Changes to copyright laws in Australia to implement its free trade agreement with the United States have opened the door for a fresh legal challenge to mod chips, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, which has instructed its lawyers to prepare a new case against the devices.

Source: GameIndustry.biz