Virtual Legality

When the Quinault Indian Nation wasn't satisfied with the efforts of the Washington Gambling Commission to curtail what it saw as illegal gambling facilitated by Valve's Steam gaming platform through Counter Strike: Global Offensive "lootboxes" and related websites, it decided to take matters into its own hands - with a lawsuit.

What does Quinault allege in its suit?

Is Valve facilitating gambling through Steam and Counter Strike?

If reasonable minds can (and do) differ on what constitutes gambling here, is it up to Quinault to determine, or does that fall to the Washington Gambling Commission?

And if the Washington Gambling Commission has already worked with Valve on this topic and hasn't alleged a further violation by Valve, how could Valve be competing unfairly, acting negligently, or otherwise interfering with the Quinault compact with the state?

In short, is this really a policy dispute masquerading as a lawsuit?

And, hey, this matter was brought to my attention by Damien Newell on Twitter (by way of The Free to Play cast). If *you* have a topic you want covered on Virtual Legality, be sure to let me know(@hoeglaw on Twitter)!

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/-gDsr9TqxfQ

#Quinault #Valve #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Valve hit with illegal gambling lawsuit by Native American nation that operates a casino in Washington state"

GeekWire - April 12, 2019 - Nat Levy

(https://www.geekwire.com/2019/valve-hit-illegal-gambling-lawsuit-native-american-nation-operates-casino-washington-state/amp/)

"Quinault v. Valve"

April 3, 2019 - No. 19-2-262-14

(https://www.scribd.com/document/406030967/Quinault-v-Valve#from_embed)

"Gambling"

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 9.46.0237

(https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.0237)

"Civil action—Unfair or deceptive act or practice—Claim elements."

RCW 19.86.093

(https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.86.093)

"Legislative declaration."

RCW 9.46.010

(https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.010)

"Gambling commission—Powers and duties."

RCW 9.46.070

(https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.070)

"Washington Pattern Jury Instructions--Civil - Tortious Interference with Economic Relations"

December 2017 Update

(https://govt.westlaw.com/wciji/Document/I2cd3bf78e10d11dab058a118868d70a9)

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

Early specifications for the PlayStation 5 were not the only things to come out of Sony this week, as The Wall Street Journal published news of Sony's newly-minted (and fairly opaque) sexual content policies.

What are the new policies and how have they been interpreted by Sony?

What caused the policies to be enacted and why weren't any formal rule changes required?

And why is this reliance on "guidelines" over formal rules making some developers (and industry observers) anxious?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/-ZPlpI1WeTQ

#Sony #PlayStation #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Sony Cracks Down on Sexually Explicit Content in Games"

Wall Street Journal - April 18, 2019 - Takashi Mochizuki

(https://www.wsj.com/articles/sony-cracks-down-on-sexually-explicit-content-in-games-11555427944)

"The Public and Broadcasting" - Objectionable Programming

Federal Communications Commission

(https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/public-and-broadcasting#ACT)

With clips from Sony exclusive games:

The Last of Us Part II

Days Gone

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

When Sony's out-of-the-blue announcement of the framework for their next PlayStation appearing in Wired this morning, many were left with more questions than answers.

What makes the next PlayStation fundamentally different from the mid-generation refresh of the PlayStation 4 Pro, and when will it launch?

How has Sony's approach to public announcements changed since the launch of the PlayStation 4 in 2013?

And why would Sony be releasing *any* information on it's marquee gaming product now, giving Microsoft a chance to tailor its own imminent next-generation announcement?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/h6BVPRDciUE

#Sony #PlayStation5 #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

2:50 - "EXCLUSIVE: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SONY'S NEXT-GEN PLAYSTATION"

Wired - April 16, 2019 - Peter Rubin

(https://www.wired.com/story/exclusive-sony-next-gen-console/)

21:54 - "Mid-April is an odd time to share even small details for the new Playstation."

Twitter Thread - April 16, 2019 - Hoeg Law

(https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1118132244684648448)

26:31 - "Curious why it's odd to tease now?"

Twitter Thread - April 16, 2019 - DomsPlaying

(https://twitter.com/DomsPlaying/status/1118140371521933312)

30:06 - "They've got the Pepsi vs Coke advantage in their market."

Twitter Thread - April 16, 2019 - TheGodDamnDM

(https://twitter.com/TheGodDamnDM/status/1118133316014579712)

34:00 - "Rumors on the street are still Q3 2020 for mass production of the chips"

Twitter Thread - April 16, 2019 - SoonyXboneUhh

(https://twitter.com/SoonyXboneUhh/status/1118147449862938624)

34:53 - "By publicly acknowledging this product in an 'official' capacity..."

Twitter Thread - April 16, 2019 - nightygale

(https://twitter.com/nightygale/status/1118150773483773954)

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

(0:00) Opening

(2:50) EXCLUSIVE: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SONY'S NEXT-GEN PLAYSTATION

(21:54) Mid-April is an odd time to share even small details for the new Playstation.

(26:31) Curious why it's odd to tease now?

(30:06) They've got the Pepsi vs Coke advantage in their market.

(34:00) Rumors on the street are still Q3 2020 for mass production of the chips

(34:53) By publicly acknowledging this product in an 'official' capacity...

***SPOILER WARNING: All Postmortem videos and podcasts contain SPOILERS***

After almost two years, Game of Thrones returns with Episode 1 of its eighth and final season, "Winterfell".

What works and doesn't work?

How does the shortened season affect perception of what is happening (and what isn't)?

And just what do titles, lordships, and crowns matter at the end of the world, anyway?

Join us for the latest Hoeg Law Postmortem: "Winterfell".

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/ys-h8vDNOPU

#GameofThrones #Winterfell #Postmortem

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

It's a big day for Star Wars, as Episode IX finally has a title, "The Rise of Skywalker", and a brand new teaser trailer!

Join us for Hoeg Law's first "real time" reactions video as we talk about the teaser, The Last Jedi, and the legacy of Star Wars!

What can this trailer tell us about Disney's internal disposition towards The Last Jedi?

What elements of the Force Awakens, the Original Trilogy, and even the Prequel Trilogy appear in the trailer?

And how can the presence of those elements help us understand multinational corporation Disney's intentions towards the series?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/GmuRXRRUCb0

#StarWars #TheRiseofSkywalker #Impressions

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

When independent management ("tycoon") game, Weedcraft Inc., went live on Steam earlier today, publisher Devolver Digital soon found that it had much more to worry about than simple storefront discoverability.

As Weedcraft Inc. models the rise of the nascent marijuana industry, the game quickly faced YouTube demonetization of "influencer" streaming, reviews, or even commentary, prohibitions on Facebook advertisements, and more.

But what do the Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch terms and conditions have to say about content restrictions like those imposed on Weedcraft?

Why are such restrictions written so broadly?

Why should all of the "tech giants" think twice about claiming that any piece of media necessarily "promotes" what it depicts?

And do we really want YouTube or Facebook determining what has artistic or educational merit?

Dangerous waters here in the Age of the Influencer.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/GB3JKUp1ADA

#Weedcraft #YouTube #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"YouTube’s rules don’t justify demonetizing Weedcraft Inc videos"

VentureBeat - April 11, 2019 - Jeff Grubb

(https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/11/youtubes-rules-dont-justify-demonetizing-weedcraft-inc-videos/)

"So Weedcraft, a game about building a corporate business around legal marijuana..."

Twitter Thread - April 11, 2019 - AgentTinsley

(https://twitter.com/AgentTinsley/status/1116387260461502464)

Facebook Advertising Policies

(https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/)

YouTube Advertiser Friendly Guidelines

(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6162278?hl=en)

Steam New Releases

April 11, 2019

(https://store.steampowered.com/explore/new/)

Twitch Community Guidelines

Last Modified - November 14, 2018

(https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/)

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

With the sale of the Gizmodo Group, some of the Internet's favorite "blog-style" journalistic hot spots are now in the hands of a little known private equity firm. But if the firm itself is little known, what the sale actually means (or could mean) is even less understood.

What is "private equity"? How does it work? How are funds formed? And how does corporate law and tax regulation inform their creation?

What does this mean for Kotaku, Gizmodo, Jezebel, Deadspin, The Onion, and the rest of the acquisition group?

And why might it not be the doom that some fear, when other private equity targets (such as Toys R Us) fell to bankruptcy shortly after their acquisition?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/HEqT5fC_NSY

#Gizmodo #PrivateEquity #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Gizmodo Media Group is sold to a private equity firm, and Univision is out of the English-language website business"

NiemanLab - April 8, 2019

(https://www.niemanlab.org/2019/04/gizmodo-media-group-is-sold-to-a-private-equity-firm-and-univision-is-out-of-the-english-language-website-business/)

"Anytime I see a private equity firm sink their teeth into a company I worry..."

Twitter Thread - April 8, 2019 - Mike Futter

(https://twitter.com/Futterish/status/1115383182235525121)

"The Demise of Toys ‘R’ Us Is a Warning"

The Atlantic - July/August 2018

(https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/toys-r-us-bankruptcy-private-equity/561758/)

"Heard price was [less than] $50mm."

Twitter Thread - April 8, 2019 - Peter Kafka

(https://twitter.com/pkafka/status/1115241421550882816)

"Private Equity"

Investopedia Entry - Updated March 13, 2019

(https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/privateequity.asp)

"About Us"

Great Hill Partners Website

(https://www.greathillpartners.com/about-us/)

***

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)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

(0:00) Opening

(0:58) The Gizmodo Media Group

(2:18) Gizmodo Media Group Is Sold to a Private Equity Firm

(11:24) Toys-R-Us Bankruptcy

(24:26) What Private Equity Firms Are

(27:55) Understanding Private Equity

(31:42) Advantages of Private Equity

(32:43) The History of Private Equity

(34:18) Distressed Funding

(37:32) About Us Page

(43:35) Holding Period