Legal

Welcome to the IGDA Legal Special Interest Group.

The IGDA Legal SIG is a community of game industry professionals and enthusiasts who are interested in legal issues related to video games. Our main goal is to foster collaboration and dialogue among game developers, publishers, students and all interested parties to support the growth and innovation of the video game industry.

We also provide and share resources to anyone in the video gaming industry looking for tips and best practices about how to handle various legal topics, such as contracts, intellectual property, data privacy, cybersecurity, and more. These topics can have a significant impact on the success and sustainability of their projects.

Join this Legal SIG to network with other game professionals, collaborate on legal projects, and exchange tips and best practices on legal issues. Students are also invited to join this SIG to discover the legal side of the game industry and seek mentorship from experienced game professionals for their career goals.

Focus and actions

Video games are not only fun and creative, but also increasingly complex and regulated. Game developers and publishers need to be aware of the legal risks and obligations that affect their work, such as intellectual property rights, data protection laws, privacy policies, and cybersecurity requirements. These legal issues can have a significant impact on the success and sustainability of their projects.

By way of example, many games today collect and process personal data from players, such as names, email addresses, and even payment information. Developers must comply with applicable data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, to ensure the privacy and security of player data. Non-compliance can have severe consequences: for example, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in December 2022 that the creator of a popular video game was required to pay a total of $520 million in relief over allegations the company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and deployed design tricks, known as dark patterns, to dupe millions of players into making unintentional purchases.

That is why this Legal SIG exists: to provide a platform for game industry professionals and enthusiasts to share their knowledge, experience, and insights on legal matters related to video games. Whether you have a legal background or not, you can join this SIG to network, collaborate, and learn from your peers in the game industry. Students are also welcome to join this SIG to explore the legal aspects of the game industry and seek guidance for their career development.

Join the community! 

LinkedIn Group: LinkedIn

Discord Group: Discord

Who We Are

Paul Lanois

Paul Lanois

Legal SIG Chair

Director, Fieldfisher

California, USA

LinkedIn

Resources

General

Artificial Intelligence

Data Privacy

Data Privacy Texts

Intellectual Property

Platform Regulation / Content Moderation

Consumer Protection

Regulatory / Merger Control

Loot Boxes

Esports

Blockchain / Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

Metaverse

Want To Get Involved?

Here’s how to reach us:

Support Us

Show your support by logging into your IGDA member account and selecting this SIG as a primary or secondary affiliation in your profile.  The roster is for HQ and not yet visible to SIG leaders, so be sure to contact us through the form below as well.

Leaders

Paul Lanois (Co-Chair)

Contact

Use this form to contact the IGDA Legal Special Interest Group.

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