VGBA Summit North 2019

GAME BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

VGBA SUMMIT NORTH

OCTOBER 3-4TH 2019 IN SEATTLE

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

WHO WE ARE?

The Video Game Bar Association is the premier international association whose members represent the industry’s leading practitioners in the interactive entertainment industry and other related fields.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

The VGBA mission is to serve its members, their specialized profession and the law governing their practice by providing worldwide tools and resources necessary to collectively achieve the highest level of expertise and service.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR SUMMIT

The VGBA summit is the definite conference if you want to get the latest news about current legal hot topics in the Interactive Entertainment industry. Furthermore, there’s also time for networking with colleagues.

TOPICS

SESSIONS

SPEAKERS

THE VIDEO GAME BAR ASSOCIATION

A number of attorneys have founded the Video Game Bar Association, which aims to serve as a networking organization for lawyers whose primary practice focuses on the video game industry. The worldwide organization, which has sent invites to over 100 attorneys in North America and Europe, is the first association of its kind related to the games business.

In order to become a member of the association, individuals must be admitted to practice law, have two years of experience as an attorney for the games industry, and receive recommendations from two existing members of the organization. The association says members will receive benefits including the opportunities to attend in-person networking sessions and to receive continuing legal education. “As more and more attorneys look at this growing industry as a significant part of their practices, it’s only natural for an organization like this to arise,” said Patrick Sweeney, head of Reed Smith’s Video Game Practice and a member of the association’s board.

day 1 agenda

Oct 3^rd (Registration from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

3:45 PM

Opening Remarks

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Joseph Olin, Executive Director – Video Game Bar Association

4:00 PM

Panel: IP & Game-Related Enforcement

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

How to develop robust content protection and branding strategies, including global trademark filings and copyright registrations for all aspects of a game, experience and related apps and merchandise. Efficiently and comprehensively address infringement issues for companies that depend upon their IP rights, helping them detect, investigate and address issues with an arsenal that includes cease and desist programs, alternative dispute resolution, civil litigation programs and criminal referrals. Including investigating possible targets for brand threats, domain name infringements, game hacks, cheats and other illicit brand integrity and piracy issues.

5:30 PM

AI/Machine Learning & Biometrics

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Discussion covering additional privacy regulations for the protection of sensitive consumer information, that will focus on privacy compliance and the legal implications of using AI in facial recognition and biometrics applications. We will also focus on emerging issues in AI and ML agreements and AI and its role in copyright.

6:30 PM

Networking, Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres

6:30 PM - OPEN END

day 2 agenda

Oct 4^th (Registration & Breakfast from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)

9:00 AM

AR/VR/XR Liability in Wait

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Featuring an interactive case study that spans a product’s entire litigation cycle, from initial design and testing to a post-accident courtroom showdown. Topics covered will involve both AR/VR hardware and software and include product liability litigation pitfalls, discovery lessons learned and other challenges within the industry landscape.

Panelists:

Dan Ridlon, Partner – Perkins Coie
Kimberly Culp, Director – Carr McClellan

10:00 AM

Panel: Kids at Play/COPPA

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Children’s Online Protection Privacy Act, or COPPA is now over 20 years old. In 2019, most children, under the age of 13, have access to or possession of an internet-enabled device. How has COPPA matured and what new steps, if any has the FTC taken to update policies related to COPPA?

Moderator:

Meredith Halama, Partner – Perkins Coie

Panelists:

Dona J. Fraser, Vice President – CARU
Don McGowan, Chief Legal Officer & Business Affairs – The Pokémon Company
Karin Hansen, Director, Legal – Consumer Regulatory Affairs – Big Fish Games

11:00 AM

Break

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

11:30 AM

eSports

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

What does it take to start a league? Novel considerations in eSports, etc.

Panelists:

Yan Perng, Senior Corporate Counsel – NCSOFT
Nicholas Mitchell, Vice President – Legal – Wizards of the Coast

12:30 PM

Lunch

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

1:30 PM

Panel: What is Real? Use of Real-World Items in Games and Rights of Publicity

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

What is Real?

Use of real-world material
Rights of publicity
Trademarks/trade names
Copyrights
Architecture

Panelists:

Felix Hilgert, Counsel – Osborne Clarke

2:30 AM

Panel: Accessibility for Gaming and Related Considerations

2:30 AM - 3:30 PM

The video game industry is now bigger than movies and music, but people with disabilities continue to face barriers that limit their ability to partake in the interactive entertainment ecosystem. In this panel, we will discuss legal developments and requirements pertaining to video game accessibility, and talk to representatives from the video game industry about how they’re trying to make gaming more inclusive.

3:30 AM

Break

3:30 AM - 3:45 PM

3:45 PM

Fireside Chat: Evolution of the Games Ecosystem

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Changing software development strategies, new mobile deals, new regulatory issues as the games business evolves to impact new markets and demographics.

Dona J. Fraser, Vice President – CARU

vs.

Don McGowan, Chief Legal Officer & Business Affairs – The Pokémon Company

4:45 PM