News & Media
The U.S. Copyright Office is skeptical about Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Alfonso Ribeiro's ownership claim over the signature "Carlton Dance," which became famous after a 1991 episode of the Will Smith series. www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/copyright-office-refuses-registration-fresh-prince-star-alfonso...
Copyright Office Refuses Registration for 'Fresh Prince' Star Alfonso Ribeiro's "Carlton Dance"
hollywoodreporter.com
A government examiner also questioned the submission of the actor's performance on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," pointing to internet research about celebrity partners and raising a work-for-hire issue.In an extensive letter addressed to a California federal court, Epic's attorney Dale Cendali wrote, "Plaintiff's lawsuit is fundamentally at odds with free speech principles as it attempts to impose liability, and thereby chill creative expression, by claiming rights that do not exist under the law. No one can own a dance step." www.complex.com/music/2019/02/epic-games-on-2-milly-fortnite-lawsuit-no-one-can-own-a-dance-step
Epic Games on 2 Milly's 'Fortnite' Lawsuit: 'No One Can Own a Dance Step'
complex.com
In Dec. 2018, rapper 2 Milly sued Epic Games for appropriating his Milly Rock dance in their insanely popular video game, 'Fortnite: Battle Royale.'Unity may be looking at going public next year. According to a report on financial news network Cheddar, Unity is looking at an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares in the first half of 2020 “pending favourable market conditions”. gamingbolt.com/unity-may-be-looking-at-going-public-in-2020-report
Unity May Be Looking At Going Public In 2020 – Report
gamingbolt.com
Unity, the makers of the most used gaming engine in the world (also named Unity), may be looking at going public next year. According to a report on financial news network Cheddar, Unity is looking at an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares in the first half of 2020 “pending favourable mar...The agency, Skatteverket, claims that Sweden lost the immaterial rights to games such as Candy Crush Saga and Farm Heroes Saga when the company was sold to Activision Blizzard in 2016, reports Swedish news site The Local. www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-08-swedish-tax-agency-targets-king-with-usd389m-fine
Swedish Tax Agency targets King with $389m fine
gamesindustry.biz
Skatteverket claims Candy Crush firm has disposed immaterial rights out of its home nationAccording to website Abacus, Taobao sellers have been trying to skirt around the bans with pseudonyms and hand-drawn box art. kotaku.com/how-chinese-online-retailers-get-around-game-bans-1832454043
How Chinese Online Retailers Get Around Game Bans
kotaku.com
Violent games keep getting banned in China. Last month, as r/gaming pointed out, China banned nine games and forced changes in 11 more. Many gory games have no chance of release. To slip past the country’s draconian censors, Chinese online retailers must get creative.
The David S. Rosenbaum Scholarship Returns for 2019!
The Video Game Bar Association is pleased to announce that its David S. Rosenbaum Scholarship is open for submissions until March 15, 2019. Named in honor of David S. Rosenbaum, a co-founder of the VGBA and respected pillar in the field of video game law who passed away in 2018, the scholarship aims to encourage and reward student interest in the field of interactive entertainment law.
Entries will be judged based on writing quality, timeliness of topic, insight offered by submission, strength of conclusion, and overall impression. The student receiving the highest review score will receive an honorarium of $2,500, an invitation to attend the 7th VGBA Summit in Los Angeles, and will have their article published as part of a new VGBA Law Journal. To enter, applicants will submit an original paper on a current legal-focused topic pertaining to the video game industry. Examples may include issues related to Intellectual Property, Right of Publicity, Privacy and Data Security, or Taxation.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of VGBA accredited members.
If you have any additional questions or comments on participation, please contact Diana at diana@vgba.org. If you are interested in making a contribution to the David Rosenbaum Scholarship Fund, please contact Joseph Olin joseph@vgba.org.
About The VGBA
Patrick Sweeney
Co-Founder & President
Konstantin Ewald
Vice President
Riley Russell
Treasurer
Sean Kane
Secretary
George Rose
Board Member
Kirk Soderquist
Board Member
Chrissie Scelsi
Board Member
Jennifer Kelly
Board Member
Joseph Olin
Executive Director
Diana Qiao
Project Manager
Membership
Interested in Becoming a Member of the VGBA? At this time, all members of the VGBA must be an attorney in good standing and either actively practicing in the video game and interactive entertainment industry or currently employed by a law school as a professor in specialized topics of the field. All prospective members must first submit an application to be peer certified as an active practitioner in the industry.