Virtual Legality

With the long awaited Kingdom Hearts 3 right around the corner, Gamestop today took the unusual step of canceling an unknown number of pre-orders for the limited edition Playstation 4 Pro designed to celebrate the series.

So what good is a pre-order, anyway?

And what can the terms and conditions of Gamestop (and other retailers) tell us about what a pre-ordering customer should expect (and not expect)?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/enxS0DBle3E

#KingdomHearts #GameStop #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"GameStop cancels Kingdom Hearts 3 special edition PS4 pre-orders, infuriating fans"

Polygon, January 25, 2019

(https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/25/18197902/kingdom-hearts-3-ps4-pro-gamestop-pre-orders-canceled)

Pre-Order "Help"

Gamestop Website

(https://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/Pre-orders.aspx)

In-Store Pre-Order "Help"

Gamestop Website

(https://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/In_Store_Pickup.aspx)

Terms and Conditions of Purchase and Use

EB Games Website

(https://www.ebgames.ca/Help/Index?section=HelpCenter%2FDisclaimer)

Terms and Conditions

Best Buy Website

(https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/terms-and-conditions/pcmcat204400050067.c?id=pcmcat204400050067)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

In this episode, Richard Hoeg dissects the legalities around Metroid Prime 4's development updates for Nintendo Switch and the launch at Nintendo E3 2017. He also discusses the controversies surrounding EA's Anthem pre-order page and the VIP Demo update from BioWare’s Head of Live Service, as well as EA Help Twitter.

(0:00) Opening

(4:08) Metroid Prime 4 - First Look - Nintendo E3 2017

(5:00) Development Update on Metroid Prime 4 for Nintendo Switch

(15:20) Electronic Arts Anthem Pre-Order Page

(17:58) Anthem VIP Demo: an update from BioWare’s Head of Live Service

(24:29) EA Help Twitter

In this episode, Richard Hoeg delves into the legalities surrounding Gamestop and Kingdom Hearts. He explores the availability section, discusses a Polygon article, analyzes a Kingdom Hearts article, and concludes with his final thoughts.

(0:00) Intro

(1:43) Gamestop and Kingdom Hearts

(9:55) Availability Section

(13:21) Polygon Article

(14:04) Kingdom Hearts Article

(20:11) Final Thoughts

With more and more high fidelity "homages" to the games of yesteryear (like P.T. and Dead Space) leaking out of the Dreams closed beta, how worried should we be about copyright infringement claims?

And what can LittleBigPlanet, the Playstation Network Terms of Service, and (yes) the DMCA, tell us about what to expect when Dreams finally launches?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/fYN39fTXEio

#Copyright #Dreams #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"PT remade in Dreams proves it could be a secret horror hit"

GamesRadar, January 22, 2019

(https://www.gamesradar.com/pt-remade-in-dreams-proves-it-could-be-a-secret-horror-hit/)

"‘Dreams’ Beta Users Recreate ‘Dead Space’ in Game"

Bloody Disgusting, January 22, 2019

(https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3542760/dreams-beta-users-recreate-dead-space-game/)

Hoeg Law Twitter

January 22, 2019

(https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1087759003256532993)

"LittleBigPlanet levels removed over copyright fears"

GamesIndustry Dot Biz, November 10, 2008

(https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/littlebigplanet-levels-removed-over-copyright-fears)

"LITTLEBIGPLANET INTERVIEW"

IGN, December 24, 2008

(https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/24/littlebigplanet-interview)

Playstation Network Terms of Service

(https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/legal/terms-of-service/)

DMCA Section 512

17 USC 512

(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

With more and more high fidelity "homages" to the games of yesteryear (like P.T. and Dead Space) leaking out of the Dreams closed beta, how worried should we be about copyright infringement claims?

And what can LittleBigPlanet, the Playstation Network Terms of Service, and (yes) the DMCA, tell us about what to expect when Dreams finally launches?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/fYN39fTXEio

#Copyright #Dreams #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"PT remade in Dreams proves it could be a secret horror hit"

GamesRadar, January 22, 2019

(https://www.gamesradar.com/pt-remade-in-dreams-proves-it-could-be-a-secret-horror-hit/)

"‘Dreams’ Beta Users Recreate ‘Dead Space’ in Game"

Bloody Disgusting, January 22, 2019

(https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3542760/dreams-beta-users-recreate-dead-space-game/)

Hoeg Law Twitter

January 22, 2019

(https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1087759003256532993)

"LittleBigPlanet levels removed over copyright fears"

GamesIndustry Dot Biz, November 10, 2008

(https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/littlebigplanet-levels-removed-over-copyright-fears)

"LITTLEBIGPLANET INTERVIEW"

IGN, December 24, 2008

(https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/24/littlebigplanet-interview)

Playstation Network Terms of Service

(https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/legal/terms-of-service/)

DMCA Section 512

17 USC 512

(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

In this episode, Richard Hoeg discusses user-created Silent Hill and Dead Space content in Dreams, answers Twitter questions, shares insights from a Media Molecule interview, and scrutinizes PlayStation's Terms of Service, Community Code of Conduct, and DMCA issues.

(0:00) Intro

(2:05) Silent Hill in Dreams

(8:08) Dead Space in Dreams

(10:43) Twitter Questions

(19:26) Media Molecule Interview

(25:06) PlayStation Terms of Service

(25:31) Community Code of Conduct

(29:06) DMCA

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a return to form for the almost 25-year-old game series; a celebration of the heady mix of anime melodrama, fast action, and unique mission structure that it was once known for - brought up to modern day graphical and aural fidelity.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a return to form for the almost 25-year-old game series; a celebration of the heady mix of anime melodrama, fast action, and unique mission structure that it was once known for - brought up to modern day graphical and aural fidelity.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

After a bruising takedown fight, Star Control: Origins is once again available for purchase on Steam, and all without a court order for one side or the other.

What does this mean for Stardock and Star Control going forward?

What can we read into Valve and Steam's willingness to reject the safe harbor liability protection afforded by the DMCA?

And what does it mean for the industry at large?

CHECK IT OUT ON VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/kqrbtBJR2oQ

CHECK OUT OUR EARLIER VIDEOS ON THE TOPIC:

"Star Control: Origins, Stardock, and the DMCA"

(https://youtu.be/gVJIgLnDbcQ)

"Look, Feel, and the DMCA"

(https://youtu.be/xgmX2GHF88o)

FULL DISCLOSURE: Hoeg Law is located near Stardock's headquarters and has had numerous personal and professional contacts with the company. No part or portion of the matters discussed in this video have been discussed by Hoeg Law with Stardock or any of its personnel.

#Stardock #StarControl #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Star Control: Origins Returns to Steam Following DMCA Takedown"

DualShockers, January 18, 2019

(https://www.dualshockers.com/star-control-origins-returns-steam-dmca)

Denial of Preliminary Injunction

December 27, 2018

(https://www.scribd.com/document/396682032/Stardock-Systems-Inc-vs-Paul-Reiche-III-and-Robert-Frederick-Ford-Order-Denying-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction)

US Copyright Act, Section 512

(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512)

"Notice of Copyright Infringement" (DMCA Takedown)

December 28, 2018

(https://content.screencast.com/users/draginol/folders/Snagit/media/530875f0-933f-4aff-943c-d15035d58a3a/12.31.2018-16.33.png)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

After a bruising takedown fight, Star Control: Origins is once again available for purchase on Steam, and all without a court order for one side or the other.

What does this mean for Stardock and Star Control going forward?

What can we read into Valve and Steam's willingness to reject the safe harbor liability protection afforded by the DMCA?

And what does it mean for the industry at large?

CHECK IT OUT ON VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/kqrbtBJR2oQ

CHECK OUT OUR EARLIER VIDEOS ON THE TOPIC:

"Star Control: Origins, Stardock, and the DMCA"

(https://youtu.be/gVJIgLnDbcQ)

"Look, Feel, and the DMCA"

(https://youtu.be/xgmX2GHF88o)

FULL DISCLOSURE: Hoeg Law is located near Stardock's headquarters and has had numerous personal and professional contacts with the company. No part or portion of the matters discussed in this video have been discussed by Hoeg Law with Stardock or any of its personnel.

#Stardock #StarControl #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Star Control: Origins Returns to Steam Following DMCA Takedown"

DualShockers, January 18, 2019

(https://www.dualshockers.com/star-control-origins-returns-steam-dmca)

Denial of Preliminary Injunction

December 27, 2018

(https://www.scribd.com/document/396682032/Stardock-Systems-Inc-vs-Paul-Reiche-III-and-Robert-Frederick-Ford-Order-Denying-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction)

US Copyright Act, Section 512

(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512)

"Notice of Copyright Infringement" (DMCA Takedown)

December 28, 2018

(https://content.screencast.com/users/draginol/folders/Snagit/media/530875f0-933f-4aff-943c-d15035d58a3a/12.31.2018-16.33.png)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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