Navigating the IP Minefield: Strategies for Video Game IP Presented by McDermott Will & Emery and the Women’s Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
October 30, 2013 5:30 – 6:30 pm PDT – Registration and reception 6:30 – 7:30 pm PDT – Roundtable discussion McDermott Will & Emery 275 Middlefield Road, Suite 100 Menlo Park, CA 94025
To register, please click here.
McDermott Speakers Lynne Boisineau, Partner andAhsan A. Shaikh, Partner
Please join McDermott and WIPLA for this reception and networking opportunity geared toward women lawyers in intellectual property, followed by an educational program focused on strategies for video game IP. The video game industry is a significant part of the entertainment industry. With revenues of more than $10.5 billion and 67 percent of U.S. households playing video games, they often rival movies in overall sales. Inevitably, such financial success begets lawsuits. Game developers, and even entities outside of the gaming industry, are increasingly asserting their intellectual property (IP) either offensively or defensively in IP infringement lawsuits. Several types of IP are relevant to the video game industry, and also relate to smartphone apps, social media and other areas of business where video game law crosses over. Generally speaking, a patent protects an invention, a copyright protects an expression of an idea, a trademark protects a name, logo or design that identifies the source of a product or service, and right of publicity protects an individual’s right to prevent others from commercially exploiting his or her identity. The panel will provide a basic overview of the types of IP as well as a top 10 list of potential pitfalls in video game IP, along with strategies for companies to protect their IP and to protect against lawsuits. For more information, please contact Tricia Wyse.
