Virtual Legality

In this second episode of "Virtual Legality", attorney Richard Hoeg of The Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law), discusses the recent admission by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it will evaluate the sale of chance-based DLC (i.e., "loot boxes") in mobile and console/PC video games.

Discussion focuses on:

* Polygon's November 27, 2018 article "FTC pledges loot crate investigation (update)"

(https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/27/18115365/ftc-loot-crate-investigation-senator-hassan)

* The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

(https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/unlawful-internet-gambling-enforcement-act)

and

*Kotaku's October 11, 2017 article "ESRB Says It Doesn't See 'Loot Boxes' As Gambling"

(https://kotaku.com/esrb-says-it-doesnt-see-loot-boxes-as-gambling-1819363091)

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

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.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT AT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: hoeglaw.com

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at 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 second episode of "Virtual Legality", attorney Richard Hoeg of The Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law), discusses the recent admission by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it will evaluate the sale of chance-based DLC (i.e., "loot boxes") in mobile and console/PC video games.

Discussion focuses on:

* Polygon's November 27, 2018 article "FTC pledges loot crate investigation (update)"

(https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/27/18115365/ftc-loot-crate-investigation-senator-hassan)

* The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

(https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/unlawful-internet-gambling-enforcement-act)

and

*Kotaku's October 11, 2017 article "ESRB Says It Doesn't See 'Loot Boxes' As Gambling"

(https://kotaku.com/esrb-says-it-doesnt-see-loot-boxes-as-gambling-1819363091)

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

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.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT AT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: hoeglaw.com

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at 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 first episode of "Virtual Legality", a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, attorney Richard Hoeg of The Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law), discusses Bethesda's recent issues surrounding refund requests and Bethesda's Fallout 76.

Discussion focuses on Mr. Hoeg's comments in GameDaily.biz's November 27th, 2018 article "Bethesda under fire for Fallout 76 refund policies" (https://gamedaily.biz/article/409/bethesda-under-fire-for-fallout-76-refund-policy) and the Bethesda/Zenimax Terms of Service (https://bethesda.net/en/termsofservice).

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

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.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT AT:

https://hoeglaw.com/

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

Or by following Rick on Twitter @hoeglaw

In this first episode of "Virtual Legality", a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, attorney Richard Hoeg of The Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law), discusses Bethesda's recent issues surrounding refund requests and Bethesda's Fallout 76.

Discussion focuses on Mr. Hoeg's comments in GameDaily.biz's November 27th, 2018 article "Bethesda under fire for Fallout 76 refund policies" (https://gamedaily.biz/article/409/bethesda-under-fire-for-fallout-76-refund-policy) and the Bethesda/Zenimax Terms of Service (https://bethesda.net/en/termsofservice).

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

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.

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT AT:

https://hoeglaw.com/

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

Or by following Rick on Twitter @hoeglaw

On January 6, 2019, the Chicago Bears completed a 30-yard pass in their playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The pass was then fumbled as the Bears receiver went to the ground.

Unfortunately, the referee's initial ruling of an incomplete pass was deemed non-reversible under the current interpretation of the NFL rules due to the fact that the officials (and not either team) "recovered" the fumble...which was, again, not called a fumble on the field.

And so, the 30-yard "incompletion" was born.

What do the NFL rules say about this mess?

How could they be changed (or interpreted differently) to avoid disregarding what everyone knows to be the correct ruling?

And what does this say about rule drafting, interpretation, and law in general?

***

Thumbnail image from NBC Broadcast of the game (with arrow from the Twitter account of John Breech).

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Bears Complete 30-Yard Pass For No Gain As Officials Recover Fumble"

Deadspin, January 6, 2019

(https://deadspin.com/bears-complete-30-yard-pass-for-no-gain-as-officials-re-1831531681)

The 2018 NFL Rulebook

(https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2018-nfl-rulebook/)

The Hoeg Law Twitter Account

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

***

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

Rick has practiced for more than a decade at some of the country's largest law firms, representing IT, software, video game, and other technology companies, as well as the individuals and institutions which fund them.

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.

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

***

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

On January 6, 2019, the Chicago Bears completed a 30-yard pass in their playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The pass was then fumbled as the Bears receiver went to the ground.

Unfortunately, the referee's initial ruling of an incomplete pass was deemed non-reversible under the current interpretation of the NFL rules due to the fact that the officials (and not either team) "recovered" the fumble...which was, again, not called a fumble on the field.

And so, the 30-yard "incompletion" was born.

What do the NFL rules say about this mess?

How could they be changed (or interpreted differently) to avoid disregarding what everyone knows to be the correct ruling?

And what does this say about rule drafting, interpretation, and law in general?

***

Thumbnail image from NBC Broadcast of the game (with arrow from the Twitter account of John Breech).

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Bears Complete 30-Yard Pass For No Gain As Officials Recover Fumble"

Deadspin, January 6, 2019

(https://deadspin.com/bears-complete-30-yard-pass-for-no-gain-as-officials-re-1831531681)

The 2018 NFL Rulebook

(https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2018-nfl-rulebook/)

The Hoeg Law Twitter Account

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

***

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

Rick has practiced for more than a decade at some of the country's largest law firms, representing IT, software, video game, and other technology companies, as well as the individuals and institutions which fund them.

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.

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Let us know what you think!

***

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 delves into the intricacies of what constitutes a catch in video games, discussing the third step rule, Rule 15 Section 2, and Article 5. He also analyzes the on-field ruling of a dead ball as an incomplete forward pass and the coach's challenge.

(0:00) Opening

(5:42) What Constitutes a Catch and Why

(6:32) The Third Step Rule

(7:26) Rule 15 Section 2

(8:02) Article 5

(8:33) On-Field Ruling of a Dead Ball as an Incomplete Forward Pass

(16:00) Coach's Challenge

In this episode, Richard Hoeg discusses Star Control Origins, providing an in-depth look at copyright laws, infringement, and the rights of a copyright owner. He also delves into Section 102, the DMCA, safe harbor provisions, and procedures for notification of claimed infringement along with potential penalties.

(0:00) Opening

(0:56) Disclaimers

(16:46) Star Control Origins

(23:25) What Is Copyright

(24:09) Copyright

(24:12) Infringement of Copyright

(25:26) What Are the Rights of a Copyright Owner

(25:43) Section 102

(33:17) The Dmca

(34:57) Safe Harbor

(38:10) Notification of Claimed Infringement

(41:30) Penalties

(43:05) Materiality Qualifier

(49:29) Summary

In this episode, Richard Hoeg delves into the analysis of Steam's top grossing games, discussing the rise of free-to-play games with a focus on Warframe. He explores changes in the gaming industry, touching on controversies like loot boxes and platform exclusivity. He also looks into the business aspects, Valve's responsibilities, and Epic Games' strategies. Lastly, he discusses future predictions for digital game store contracts and recaps the year for Virtual Legality.

(0:00) Introduction and overview of today's topic - Analysis of Steam's top grossing games

(2:25) The rise of free-to-play games and the success story of Warframe

(5:23) The changing landscape of the gaming industry: Multiplayer games and longevity of older games

(10:19) Controversies in the gaming industry: Loot boxes and platform exclusivity

(14:08) The business side of gaming: Valve's fiduciary responsibility and Epic Games' market strategy

(19:13) The competitive digital game store landscape: Threats and challenges for Steam

(21:32) Future predictions for digital game store contracts

(23:32) Recap of the year and future plans for Virtual Legality

In this episode, Richard Hoeg delves into EA's guidance cut, exploring its implications. He also discusses the politics surrounding Battlefield V and EA's response. Further topics include the provision of guidance, discounting strategies, and monetization in digital spaces.

(0:00) Introduction

(2:24) Analysis

(8:04) EA Guidance Cut

(9:41) Battlefield V Politics

(11:39) EAs Response

(16:20) Guidance Provision

(24:36) Discounts

(26:50) Monetization