Virtual Legality

TOEI STORY - Totally Not Mark, YouTube, and Avoiding A Copyright Catastrophe (VL615)

YouTuber Totally Not Mark had 150+ videos removed by Dragon Ball copyright holder Toei Animation, but where, in other instances, YouTube has thrown up its hands, here they finally came to the (very belated) rescue. An obvious solution means an obvious problem which could have been avoided...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/pAwG3yzFbRs #TotallyNotMark #Toei #Copyright *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https...

PEELING THE UNION - Activision Reorganizes Raven QA Workers (VL614)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But now that unionization is officially something Activision has to consider, is the reorganization of QA across Raven Software really as benign as the company is suggesting? QA and Raven both are now embedded in a Warzone of their own making, literally...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VI...

TOEI STORY | Totally Not Mark, YouTube, and Avoiding a Copyright Catastrophe (VL615)

null

PEELING THE UNION? | Activision Reorganizes Raven QA Workers (VL614)

null

Missing Ana De Armas So Much You Sue | A Look At The Yesterday Lawsuit (VL613)

Do you love the work of Hollywood star Ana De Armas? Probably not as much as some, it would appear, as two plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit alleging false advertising against Universal Pictures and its film "Yesterday", primarily for not including the talented actress in the film. But does a trailer really "represent and warrant" aspects of a final product motion picture, and what would it mean for the industry (and others) if it did? It's both Yesterday's Enterprise and a *sta...

Politics At Play - Regulation Concerns For Microsoft x Activision (VL612)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But while some have dismissed concerns that federal regulators like the FTC or DOJ could come calling, a look at the political environment of 2022 might give some a moment of pause. Political agencies act with political motivations...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.b...

Politics at Play | Regulation Concerns for Microsoft x Activision (VL612)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:19) The Ambiguities of Antitrust (6:33) Some Very Certain Analysts (16:50) A Changing Political Landscape (26:47) Congressional Antitrust Bills (30:45) Conclusion

Schrödinger's Labor Union - On Activision, Raven, And Bad Reporting (VL611)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But with unionization efforts ongoing across ABK, what was likely to happen in the shadow of the transaction, and why have so many outlets jumped the gun on reporting the events at Raven. Quoth the Gaming Journalists, 'nevermore'...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/...

Schrödinger's Labor Union | On Activision, Raven, and Bad Reporting (VL611)

null

Call Of Duty To Remain On PlayStation - MICROSOFT x ACTIVISION (VL610)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But what of the crown jewel of Activision's console line-up: Call of Duty. Will the company intent on spending billions really permit its nearest competitor to reap the benefits of its gaming output? Microsoft intends to answer the call...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://...

Wait, How Much Does it Cost to Break-Up? - MICROSOFT x ACTIVISION (VL609)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But what's actually in the agreement between these two juggernauts? How did the reporting get at least some aspects of it wrong? And will it really cost one side or the other $2B+ to end things? You better be darn sure you want to break up...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.b...

Call of Duty to Remain on PlayStation | MICROSOFT x ACTIVISION (VL610)

null

Wait, How Much Does it Cost to Break-Up? | MICROSOFT x ACTIVISION (VL609)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:48) Merger Summary (23:14) What Reps Do (and Don't) Do (31:40) Conclusion

Did Microsoft Play Activision Dirty? (Or Just Bobby Kotick?) (VL608)

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But $70 BILLION could have been so much more at a market premium for the company offered not even a year ago. Did the $2T gorilla in the room "help" make such a deal possible in public (and other) statements, and where does CEO Bobby Kotick's ego fit in? It's always Bobby, Bobby, Bobby...in Virtual Leg...

Did Microsoft Play Activision Dirty? (Or just Bobby Kotick?) (VL608)

null (0:00) Introduction (1:38) Whither Bobby Kotick (4:19) A Questionable Timeline (Wall Street Journal) (12:08) Discounting Big Bets (17:12) Deny, Deny, Deny (18:38) Phil Spencer Talks Activision (22:23) Microsoft's Own Shareholder Revolt (26:39) Buying the Press (28:35) Conclusion

BUYING LOW - A Legal Look At Microsoft's Stunning Activision Acquisition (VL607)

Activision Blizzard has had a year of news appearances that is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. Or are they? A lot to talk about. Every company everywhere might wind up bought and sold...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/rzPuhjCZK7I #Activision #Microsoft #Antitrust *** WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLA...

BUYING LOW | A Legal Look at Microsoft's Stunning Activision Acquisition (VL607)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:18) Microsoft Talks to Gamers (11:52) The Deal Described (Buying Low) (21:14) Microsoft Talks to Its Employees (24:44) Acquisitions and Antitrust (Horizontal Mergers) (38:42) Conclusion

Robed Figures Convene To Worsen Vaccine Mandate Law - A SCOTUS STORY (VL606)

The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is nothing if not consistently inconsistent. Unfortunately, in the US there is little in the way of protection from this particular band of nine religiously-dressed, unelected individuals; a fact made all the more clear when they issue two opposed opinions based on almost identical legal premises and arguments. YouTube should love the number of times we say "vaccine mandates"...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/02nq9kw8u4o #Vacci...

Robed Figures Convene to Worsen Vaccine Mandate Law | A SCOTUS STORY (VL606)

Robed Figures Convene to Worsen Vaccine Mandate Law | A SCOTUS STORY (VL606)

null (0:00) Introduction (5:01) The OSHA Opinion (18:39) The OSHA Concurrence (Major Questions) (27:43) The OSHA Dissent (32:34) The Healthcare Workers Decision (47:16) Pulling the Purse Strings (South Dakota v Dole) (56:40) The Healthcare Dissent (Major Questions; Notice and Comment) (1:00:29) Conclusion

Snorlax Just Popped! - How To Get Fired From The LAPD (VL605)

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has a long history of dealing with some pretty bad apples, but when its officers pretend they can't hear a robbery call in order to...chase after Pokemon? Well, that might put a whole new spin on the concept of "lazy". What was once sleeping on the job is now chasing the "Sleeping Pokemon"...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/v1kXdy-nf0o #Snorlax #LAPD #PokemonGo *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com...

"Snorlax Just Popped!" | How to Get Fired from the LAPD (VL605)

null

TWITCH BANS Pokimane, Hasan, And The Limits Of Largesse And Fair Use (VL604)

Twitch finds itself in the center of another controversy as leading streamers Pokimane and Hasan learn the limits of fair use and reaction videos. Largesse may exist, but it sure as heck isn't fair...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/wrNZUqvtQsE #Pokimane #Hasan #FairUse *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store *** Discussed i...

Take Two To Buy Zynga? - Understanding The Deal (and Market) (VL603)

Acquisition season never stops in the world of video games and Take Two Interactive wants to get in on the action. What does the game publisher's announced $12.7B acquisition of mobile publisher Zynga mean for the company and its shareholders? For everyone else? There's a lot to discuss. We go from Farmville to Northville...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/iudrxrXF1Bs #Activision #Cheats #Lawsuit *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/Vi...

Take Two to Buy Zynga? | Understanding the Deal (and Market) (VL603)

null

TWITCH BANS | Pokimane, Hasan, and the Limits of Largesse and Fair Use (VL604)

null

Activision Sues Cheat Merchants: A Legal Look At The Lawsuit (VL602)

Activision Blizzard never stays out of the news for long, but this time it's the publisher that is bringing the legal action against cheat merchants EngineOwning. Is it a slam dunk, or is the answer more complex than it might first appear? Dredd it, run from it, the Law still arrives...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/uUtpAkpmZNA #Activision #Cheats #Lawsuit *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://st...

Activision Sues Cheat Merchants | A Legal Look at the Lawsuit (VL602)

null (0:00) Introduction (3:52) The Lawsuit (Overview) (14:04) Establishing Jurisdiction (16:39) The Facts Alleged (22:00) Revenge of the DMCA (23:14) Interfering with Contracts (Unfair Competition) (31:35) Enforcing Judgment Abroad (33:25) Conclusion

Riot Settlement Has BIG Implications For Activision Blizzard (and California) (VL601)

Before Activision, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) successfully stopped a private class action brought against Riot Games (League of Legends), from settling for a "mere" $10M. Now, the DFEH and California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) have realized a great victory from such efforts, as the game maker has agreed to settle instead for 10x that amount (as well as three years of additional agency scrutiny). But what may be even more interesting ...

Riot Settlement Has BIG Implications for Activision Blizzard (and California) (VL601)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:22) The Kotaku Article (6:53) A Private Action (9:11) California Intervenes (15:24) Riot's $100M Settlement (Washington Post) (24:10) Settlement Terms (Echoes of Activision) (31:53) Conclusion

Read. Your. Contracts. - A Look At What Can Hide In Fine Print (NZXT) (VL600)

I'm always enthused about helping folks understand the importance of reading contracts, so when Twitter user negaoryx opined on the "fine print" of NZXT's new Partner Program, I thought it a great jumping off point to discuss a few aspects of the modern "contract of adhesion" through a close examination of those program terms. We're pretty sure "negaoryx" is a pokemon reference, but we just can't be *positive*...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/_d5KM8wfP-E #Cre...

Read. Your. Contracts. | A Look at What Can Hide in Fine Print (NZXT) (VL600)

null (0:00) Introduction (3:40) The NZXT Partner Program (7:31) Diving into the Program Terms (17:09) Licensing Your Content (29:22) Mandatory Arbitration Issues (33:15) Conclusion

Let's Talk About NFTs - Ubisoft Quartz, OpenSea, and the DMCA (VL599)

NFT. Three letters that have gotten more than their share of vitriol in the very recent past, for some good reasons, and for some...not so good. What *could* non-fungible tokens do in the world of video games (and the world at large), and what are they currently doing? We take a look at the possibilities through the eyes of Ubisoft and their Quartz project, as well as how real artists are dealing with infringement claims and DMCA requirements at NFT marketplace OpenSea. I'm pretty sure ...

Let's Talk About NFTs | Ubisoft Quartz, OpenSea, and the DMCA (VL599)

null (0:00) Introduction (1:35) Ubisoft's Vision of the Future (6:56) Ubisoft's Reality of the Present (Quartz and Digits) (18:05) Securities Law Issues (23:04) Negative Reactions Abound (27:11) The Problem of Infringement (OpenSea) (34:05) Understanding the DMCA (42:45) Conclusion

DEBATE! Top Ten Games Of 2021 (feat. Tom Hoeg)

It's that time of year again. Tom Hoeg, long thought lost to the underbelly of the gaming industry, has awoken, and just in time for him to explain to me how the many entries on my Top Ten Games of the Year are either completely or mostly wrong. THABTO is back and here to celebrate the year that was gaming in 2021! *** Please consider supporting the channel below! PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring...

Cyberpunk 2077 Cyber-Settlement: CD Projekt To Settle Investor Class Action (VL598)

The disastrous release of CDPR's Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 was met with poor messaging, recriminations, and the seemingly inevitable: a class action lawsuit. But while some wanted to sue the company for a faulty product, the primary legal action was brought by the company's investors who accused CD Projekt of not being honest with the state of the game behind the scenes or how it would be received upon release. Now, nearly a year after those suits were filed, the game publisher has ...

Cyberpunk 2077 Cyber-Settlement | CD Projekt to Settle Investor Class Action Lawsuit (VL598)

null (0:00) Intro (0:31) Cyberpunk 2077 (1:45) Investors Lawsuit (2:04) Lawsuit Details (6:06) Management Board Report (7:33) Settlement Term Sheet (15:56) Cyberpunk 2077 Hype (17:33) Support the Channel (17:44) Final Announcement (17:57) Top 10 Games of 2020 (18:30) Outro

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker - Wait Times, Sales Stoppages, And The Law (VL597)

Final Fantasy XIV Online has dropped its latest expansion, Endwalker, and it is popular. So popular in fact that wait times have proven a topic of controversy for players and Square Enix alike, going so far as to see the game published actually suspend sales of the game going into the holiday season. Did Square Enix have to make the move legally? And why do I think this one of the more positive gaming news stories of the year? We make the Endwalker wait times melt away...in Virtual Legali...

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker | Wait Times, Sales Stoppages, and the Law (VL597)

null (0:00) Introduction (1:35) Legality and FF XIV's Terms of Service (17:27) Square Enix Pulls FF XIV Sales and Ads (29:43) Conclusion

CALIFORNIA DENIED - Cannot Stop EEOC Activision Settlement (VL596)

California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) tried to stop the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from settling with Activision, but the resulting fallout not only sullied the reputations of both agencies, but has also proved to be all for naught. Wanting something doesn't make it a federal case, as the State of California just found...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/ukwpsMqp5ic #Activision #California #EEOC *** SUPPORT THE CHA...

CALIFORNIA DENIED | Cannot Stop EEOC/Activision Settlement (VL596)

null

Trademarks & Tribulations - (New) TSR Sues Wizards Of The Coast (VL595)

What do you get when you combine dungeons, dragons, corporate reorganizations, trademark law, acquisition law, crowdfunding, and libel claims? A Collection of Oddities (feat. TSR and Wizards of the Coast). We read the fine print on fundraising campaigns...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/rfsGyZyFlnE #TSR #WOTC #Lawsuit *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://t...

Trademarks & Tribulations | (New) TSR Sues Wizards of the Coast (VL595)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:38) The Indiegogo Campaign (12:48) Wizards Sends Cease and Desist (17:40) The Game Wizards and Cancellation (23:22) An Odd Set of Trademark Applications (26:01) Abandonment and TSR's Lawsuit (38:50) Discretion and More Red Flags (40:58) Conclusion

Hoisted By Their Own Bungie Cord - A Close Look At IGN's Exposé (VL594)

When Activision Blizzard was originally sued by the State of California, many had something to say. But one stood out. Washington-based game developer and creator of Destiny, Bungie, went out of its way to tweet, post, and comment on the fact that it was different. It was better than others in the industry. But now, IGN has something to say about all of that. Let's take a look. You always have to watch for the rebound when dealing with a bungie...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VI...

Union Busting? - Activision Responds To CWA Card Check Drive (VL593)

Activision Blizzard has responded to the ABK Workers Alliance (ABetterABK) union drive, and while some would like to imply their response is illegal (or otherwise untoward, it's a fair bit more complicated than that. Join us for a trip (back) into the National Labor Relations Act, what a card check drive actually is, and how the first amendment protects Activision's management as surely as it protects its employees. Ray Parker Jr. might not really have known all there was to know about bu...

Hoisted By Their Own Bungie Cord | A Close Look at IGN's Exposé (VL594)

null (0:00) Introduction (0:48) Bungie Jumps Into the Fray (6:34) IGN's Exposé - An Overview (10:04) Dysfunction Junction (13:57) Setting the Narrative (41:20) Assholes All Around (45:36) Severance and Non-Disparagement (50:25) Hostile to Women (57:19) Medical Maladies (1:00:44) Setting the Goalposts (1:04:47) Responding to the Issue (1:08:13) Conclusion

Union Busting? | Activision Responds to CWA Card Check Drive (VL593)

null (0:00) Introduction (2:09) Activision Responds (Responses to the Response) (6:56) CWA Calls for Neutrality (12:16) IGN and Understanding Illegality (21:06) Analyzing the Response (35:43) Conclusion

APPLE WINS - Paused Injunction Means Total Victory...For Now (VL592)

Epic v Apple Deadline Day - The district court's injunction against Apple's anti-steering guidelines *would* have gone into effect today. But...it didn't, and the ramifications will be felt across the iOS ecosystem. How did the ninth circuit arrive at its decision to pause the injunction? Sometimes we know what we're talking about...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/FJ7ER_GBUCw #Epic #Apple #Injunction *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon....

STRIKE! Activision Faces Biggest Union Push In Industry History (VL591)

Activision Blizzard's 2021 is about to get more fraught as the ABK Workers Alliance (ABetterABK) calls for a strike, starts a fundraiser to support that strike, and, perhaps most importantly, distributes union authorization cards in the midst of one of the most tumultuous times in the company's history. Do they have the 30% support necessary to really put the pressure on Activision here? And what does that mean anyway? There's no question this activity is "concerted", the question is wheth...

STRIKE! | Activision Faces Biggest Union Push in Industry History (VL591)

null (0:00) Introduction (0:54) A Better ABK Calls for Strike (10:07) A Risky Proposition (17:27) Authorizing a Union (25:20) Conclusion