As the "Epic vs Apple" festivities begin in earnest, enterprising Internet citizens discover more and more interesting documents in the discovery materials. ***

Now, Tom Warren of The Verge has uncovered exchanges between Epic and Sony in which the PlayStation manufacturer rejected attempts by Epic to add "crossplay" (or "cross-platform play") in Epic's Fortnite product, before possibly determining that it could justify the move...with a bit of royalty incentive.

Is Sony charging for crossplay? Would this be a new concept for the industry? Is it completely unacceptable or can it be justified? And what does the company's own publisher agreement say about the topic?

Apple v Epic is the gift that keeps on giving...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/ILdNW8_Tfw8

#PlayStation #Sony #Crossplay

***

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality

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STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store

***

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

2:04 An Exchange of Emails

11:30 A Crossplay Revenue Plan

21:09 The Global Developer and Publisher Agreement

31:02 Conclusion (Quieting the Discord)

***

Discussed in this episode:

"An Antitrust Epic"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-lb7ReoUqL5_dTcM8ngmfV

Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc.

Court Listener

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17442392/epic-games-inc-v-apple-inc/

"The Last of Us Part 2 as Reviewed by...Microsoft? (VL457)"

YouTube Video - May 3, 2021 - Hoeg Law

https://youtu.be/Cqkg5giDJNU

"...this is an email from Sony to Epic Games in 2018..."

Twitter Thread - May 3, 2021 - Tom Warren

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1389259771354681348

"Sony really hated PS4 crossplay, confidential documents reveal"

The Verge - May 3, 2021

https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/3/22417560/sony-ps4-cross-play-confidential-documents-epic-games-agreements

"GLOBAL DEVELOPER & PUBLISHER AGREEMENT" (2017)

SEC EDGAR Database

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/000162828017005833/ex10-48.htm

"Announcing PlayStation’s new Partnership with Discord"

PlayStation Blog - May 3, 2021

https://www.sie.com/en/blog/announcing-playstations-new-partnership-with-discord

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com