Esports and the Law

The global esports industry has grown rapidly, giving rise to a range of new and interesting legal questions and issues. This guide addresses which laws govern esports and provides a comparison to traditional sports, touching on topics such as intellectual property rights, labor and employment issues, violent content, collegiate esports, gambling, and more. Esports law covers a variety of practice areas that present a rapidly-changing field and a unique set of challenges. This new guide discusses laws that govern esports and how the bodies of law that apply in the context of traditional sports are both similar to, and distinct from, those governing esports. With the global rise in prominence of the esports industry, there are questions to consider: what constitutes esports? What are the legal implications? How will it be regulated? This book, the first of its kind to address these issues, begins with a brief history of esports and leads up to today's growing industry. To help lawyers gain an understanding of the complexities of esports, this guide: Outlines the history and business environment of competitive electronic gaming. Explores the legal issues related to the esports industry, including the ownership of intellectual property rights; issues pertaining to gamers' rights of publicity; esports labor and employment matters; and issues pertaining to contest broadcasts. Examines the legal and public policy issues pertaining to esports, including the treatment of violent content in video games; the emergence of collegiate esports competitions; issues pertaining to the equitable treatment of women; esports gambling, doping, and immigration matters. Included is a valuable glossary of terms for esports and a conclusion projecting the long-term viability of esports and prediction for future business and legal trends.