When Kickstarter recently added "recommendations" for ensuring that campaigns on the site were "honest and clear", a great deal of attention was paid to the new prohibitions on photo-realistic renderings and superlative language ("Virtual Legality is the world's greatest legal podcast and video series!).

But what many didn't pay quite enough attention to was the "recommendation" that a campaign ask for *complete* funding, and that may have led to a bit of a raw deal for one small project creator.

Would Kickstarter really punish backers for engaging in activity tacitly (and expressly) permitted for much of the past decade?

What type of campaign would draw Kickstarter's ire, and why would Kickstarter want to reject money-making opportunities anyway?

What did Killerwhale Games and their MMORPG project "Raw" learn about the answers to these questions, and why can we expect more stories like this in the future?

We strive for an honest and clear presentation in...Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/sTOSmuG-Lmc

#Raw #Kickstarter #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"@HoegLaw Curious to hear your thoughts on this..."

Twitter - July 15, 2019 - @IndieLauraSDG

(https://twitter.com/IndieLauraSDG/status/1150852397670944769)

"Kickstarter suspends GTA Online imitator RAW and cancels pledges"

PCGamesN - July 15, 2019 - Dustin Bailey

(https://www.pcgamesn.com/raw/kickstarter)

"RAW - sandbox MMORP game with attention to realism (Suspended)"

Kickstarter Campaign - As of July 15, 2019

(https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/killerwhalegames/raw-sandbox-mmorp-game-with-attention-to-realism/description)

"Honest and Clear Presentation in Projects"

Kickstarter Rules and Recommendations

(https://www.kickstarter.com/honest)

Kickstarter Terms of Use

Updated as of May 25, 2018

(https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use)

"The World's Best Crowdfunding Site Releases Incredible New Rules and Guidelines to Help Protect Amazing Backers"

Gizmodo - June 13, 2019 - Andrew Liszewski

(https://gizmodo.com/the-worlds-best-crowdfunding-site-releases-incredible-n-1835493116)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

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(0:00) Opening

(0:58) The Communication Decency Act Section 230

(3:37) Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

(9:09) Policy

(13:47) What Is an Information Content Provider

(15:24) Civil Liability

(19:02) Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act

(21:25) Bill Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act

(26:38) Fairness Doctrine

(29:27) The Fairness Doctrine

(30:45) Politically Biased Moderation

(33:00) Exception for Business Necessity

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Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox Software, has been accused of illicitly moving $12 Million in payments made by publisher 2K Games for the development of Borderlands 3 over to his own personal company. But why is the story much more complicated than that?

What were the payments for and why is it important?

Of what significance is Gearbox's own approval of the transfer?

How does Mr. Pitchford's control of the company complicate the question?

How can such "interested party" transactions be "cleansed" of impropriety under Texas limited liability company law?

And why does perhaps none of that matter, if what we're talking about is perceived by so many as unethical?

You won't believe your eyes, in...Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/PP4qsoBSZvc

#Pitchford #Gearbox #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Former Gearbox employee provides proof Randy Pitchford diverted funds to personal company"

GameDailyBiz - June 18, 2019 - Mike Futter

(https://gamedaily.biz/article/965/former-gearbox-employee-provides-proof-randy-pitchford-diverted-funds-to-personal-company)

Callender v Gearbox and Pitchford

Plaintiff's Third Amended Petition

Cause No. DC-18-19179

(NO ONLINE CITATION)

Texas Comptroller Public Information Report

Gearbox Software, L.L.C.

(https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/coaSearchBtn)

2017 Texas Statutes

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS CODE

TITLE 3 - LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

CHAPTER 101 - LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

(https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2017/business-organizations-code/title-3/chapter-101/)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

null

(0:00) Opening

(10:22) Duty of Loyalty

(32:27) Texas Statutes

(32:56) Section 101 Point 255 Contracts or Transactions Involving Interested Governing Persons or Officers

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What began the year in acrimony, ends in honey and wine, as Stardock (Star Control Origins) and Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III (Star Control; Star Control 2) settle their differences and move on from litigation.

But what's in the settlement that's got folks buzzing?

Settlement is sweet...in Virtual Legality.

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

#Stardock #StarControl #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Stardock and Star Control creators have reached a settlement"

GameDailyBiz - June 12, 2019 - James Brightman

(https://gamedaily.biz/article/938/stardock-and-star-control-creators-have-reached-a-settlement)

"What Percentage of Lawsuits Settle Before Trial?"

The Law Dictionary

(https://thelawdictionary.org/article/what-percentage-of-lawsuits-settle-before-trial-what-are-some-statistics-on-personal-injury-settlements/)

"Stardock and Star Control creators settle lawsuits—with mead and honey"

Ars Technica - June 11, 2019 - Lee Hutchinson

(https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/06/stardock-and-star-control-creators-settle-lawsuits-with-mead-and-honey/)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)