Games and interactive entertainment are the dominant entertainment medium globally. There are over 3 billion gamers across the world and this number is only growing. Through the CMS Global Games Group, we act for leading and emerging clients in this space to support them on their journey in this fast-moving sector.
Games, esports and interactive entertainment sits at the intersection of many of our core areas of expertise – it is where technology, sports, media, advertising, music, gambling and players all come together. We understand how these industries work and are well-placed to navigate a path through to achieving a strategy tailored to your objectives.
CMS Global Games Group is comprised of legal advisers across all our practice areas and jurisdictions. Our geographic reach is unmatched in this sector – we can deliver localised advice to support your strategies, led by a team experienced in cross-border work and implementing global strategies.
We can offer dedicated services from the early advisory, pre-action stages of a potentially litigious matter all the way through the life cycle of a dispute. We also provide cutting-edge advice on regulatory requirements, staying ahead of the curve with new trends and developments.
Some of our areas of expertise include:
- Contractual disputes
- Media rights
- Class action risk
- ESG related claims
- Misrepresentation
- Brand management
- Content policing
- Competition regulation
- Gambling regulation
- Data protection
Factors like the accessibility of gaming (via digital distribution), and its broad demographic (including very young consumers) makes it such that there are multiple stakeholders, often with conflicting interests.
We have a unique understanding of the industry and its multiple stakeholders, enabling us to offer a comprehensive and future-facing service. We recognise the unique issues faced investors, publishers, developers, platforms, content creators, new in-game offerings and professional associations and league/event organisers, professional esports teams and players.
Our clients include:
- Ajax on various issues regarding their esports team.
- Electronic Sport League (ESL) on the foundation of the global esports league for CS:GO.
- Esports Mogul on the legality of the launch of an esports platform known as ‘Esports Hero’ across various markets in Asia-Pacific.
- Fnatic on IP advice and contract negotiation in relation to the League of Legends European Championship.
- the German Bundesliga on the first bidding process for FIFA esports.
- Hiro Capital on the set up of this specialist €100M VC fund focussed on the games, esports and digital sports industries and on its Series A investments into Nurvv and Flavourwork.
- Warner Bros on its acquisition of mobile gaming developer Playdemic, the mobile gaming developer whose titles include the hugely successful “Golf Clash”.
- World Esports Association on the establishment of an esports association and a professional esports league, involving the best known esports teams worldwide and the ESL.
- Microsoft/Xbox in relation to new digital products, including games, specifically developments for the Xbox platform, and regulation in relation to Loot Boxes in the Netherlands.
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