We address the full range of issues and transactions needed for success in the world of interactive entertainment, including:
Acquisitions
We have expertise in handling strategic transactions, including the buying and selling of everything from development studios to IP portfolios to entertainment franchises.
Financing
We have helped to pioneer some of the new financing models increasingly pervasive in the software gamed industry, including setting up production financing vehicles and appropriate completion bonding and distribution arrangements.
Development and Publishing
We have negotiated many single- and multi-title software game development, publishing, and republishing arrangements, as well as related matters such as options, preproduction agreements, LOIs and terminations. We have been substantially involved with emergent platforms such as online and MMO games, casual games, and mobile games. Our experience representing both publishers and developers of software games allows us to draw on both perspectives in negotiation of deals, often saving time and achieving value-added solutions for our clients.
Licensing
We handle licensing of game-related content and technologies across a spectrum of categories, including sports leagues and players, music, motion pictures, novels, television series, comic book/anime properties, board games, famous buildings, and, on the technology side, game platform rights and middleware software technologies and tools.
Content Creation
Because interactive entertainment products and services are increasingly rich in multi-media creative elements, we negotiate many deals for creation and delivery of such elements, including in-game videos, voice-overs, artwork, storylines, dialogue, maps, 3D models, and websites.
Distribution
We help put in place distribution relationships for software entertainment products and services, including both traditional models (“boxed” retail products) and alternative channels (downloads, subscriptions, specialized retail, “streaming”, online interactive, gaming portals) and have experience addressing a broad range of revenue models.
IP Enforcement
We represent intellectual property rights holders in enforcing their rights against software pirates, cybersquatters and other infringers.
Publishing
We advise publishers with respect to the range of issues that affect their businesses. Examples include legal review of game content and related marketing materials, obtaining and granting permissions related to game IPs, and assisting in connection with royalty disputes and other controversies. We are also very familiar with structuring promotions, product placements, and cross-marketing activities.
In-Game Advertising
We have handled numerous agreements for in-game advertising involving some of the most famous and recognizable corporate brands, and including deals that involve advertising content that is “dynamically served” into games.
Websites
We advise in connection with issues unique to the web, such as privacy policies, terms of use, trademark usage guidelines, user communities, domain names, referral agreements, and linking.
Agency
We help negotiate appropriate agency relationships for representation of game-related rights, properties, catalogues, and franchises.
Merchandising
We structure, draft, and negotiate deals for exploitation of game-related content for purposes of both consumer-products merchandising and media merchandising—motion pictures, novels, graphic novels, and television series.
Due Diligence
We advise investors and other interested parties in connection with analyzing chains of title and IP rights-related issues affecting interactive entertainment brands, properties, franchises, and portfolios.