Agenda

This panel would dive into ways in-house legal teams at video game companies can successfully investigate and enforce their intellectual property rights and contractual terms against a variety of harmful misuse in their games (e.g., intentional and accidental infringement, fraud, harassment and abuse of other players, cheaters, etc.). The panel will discuss ways to successfully utilize cross-company teams/departments (legal, communications, security) to identify and achieve specific enforcement goals, such as game security, player protection, IP enforcement. The panel will also discuss how to address the challenges of enforcement against anonymous online individuals and targets in foreign jurisdictions. This would be a topic focusing largely on copyright, trademark, and breach of contract (e.g., breach of EULA or Terms of Service).

Takeaway

Objectives: • Build effective cross functional programs: Define roles for legal, security, trust & safety, and communications to set clear enforcement goals (game integrity, player protection, brand/IP protection). • Strengthen copyright and trademark enforcement: Apply takedowns, notices, and litigation triage to mods, asset rip offs, counterfeit merchandise, and brand misuse on platforms and marketplaces. • Operationalize contract remedies: Enforce EULAs and Terms of Service against cheaters, botters, fraudsters, and harassers using suspensions, bans, clawbacks, and arbitration/venue clauses. • Investigate and attribute misuse: Develop lawful and practical evidence collection, logging, and chain of custody practices for online misconduct and third party tool ecosystems. • Overcome anonymity and borders: Use subpoenas, platform workflows, and international cooperation to identify anonymous actors and pursue targets in foreign jurisdictions.

Intended Audience

• Startup founders, studio executives, and operational leaders (product, engineering, live ops, growth) • Investors and advisors evaluating IP risk and operational resilience • In house counsel and legal professionals at game publishers, platforms, and studios • Trust & safety, security, and fraud operations leaders • Brand protection and IP enforcement teams • Community management and communications professionals • Outside counsel and investigators supporting games enforcement.