Virtual Legality

Martha is dead. That fact, and the circumstances that surrounded it, appear to have eluded Sony and its PlayStation certification team as they have moved to censor unstated aspects of the game "Martha is Dead" immediately prior to its release.

But does Sony have a leg to stand on given...its history of violence?

This is for the hypocrites...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/TgC1nUSyiwE

#MarthaIsDead #Censorship #PlayStation

***

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

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SEASONED GAMING BITCAST - SUNDAYS AT 11:00 EASTERN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***

Discussed in this episode:

TWEETS

https://twitter.com/WiredP/status/1492156908861591556

https://twitter.com/KelvinA313/status/1492332323659997190

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1492552358982782982

https://twitter.com/Mason__666/status/1492567282710626313https://twitter.com/algambill/status/1492561275016073216

VIDEOS

https://youtu.be/UzdNECcio54

https://youtu.be/KlH6JmZuDwA

"Last of Us Leak Legalities"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-ULKii2yP9AY-Emo1_G8xN

ARTICLES AND POSTS

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/02/09/open-app-store-principles-activision-blizzard/

https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/30/16571230/last-of-us-part-2-trailer-violence-women

https://i0.wp.com/bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/hannibal.jpg

***

"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

Lost Ark has become a phenomenon, scoring one of the biggest western game releases in gaming history. But the game hides more secrets than just its content, as we take a close look at one particular provision in the Amazon Games Terms of Use.

We'll fight our new alien overlords to the last...in Virtual Legality.

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

#LostArk #NewWorld #Amazon

***

WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

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

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SEASONED GAMING BITCAST - SUNDAYS AT 11:00 EASTERN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Lost Ark Is One of Steam's Biggest-Ever Games, Even Before It Goes Free-to-Play"

IGN - February 9, 2022

https://www.ign.com/articles/lost-ark-steam-biggest-ever-games-free-play-concurrents-twitch

"hey [playlostark]..."

Tweet - February 11, 2022 - MiltonTPike1

https://twitter.com/MiltonTPike1/status/1492147267427569670

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

https://www.playlostark.com/en-us/legal

https://subscriptions.amazongames.com/lostarkcreatortermsen

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20200717103153/https://www.peacocktv.com/terms

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/

***

"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

Bungie and Microsoft are no strangers to the 2022 news cycle, but neither have been in the news for unpaid royalties -- until today.

An exclusive Eurogamer interview with Halo composers Marty O'Donnell and Mike Salvatori has revealed a lawsuit now almost two years old in which they argue that Microsoft owes them royalties for the multi-trillion dollar company's use of Halo music.

But as Microsoft claims the music is theirs as a "work made for hire", details get messy and "innocent" television studios are threatened.

Music royalty is fighting for royalties, today...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/YT9F1Tr-z1M

#Halo #Microsoft #Lawsuit

***

WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

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

STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg

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SEASONED GAMING BITCAST - SUNDAYS AT 11:00 EASTERN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:48 The Marty O'Donnell Interview

06:18 Injunction Junction

11:18 Myth and Money

26:02 Halo Sold

34:49 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Original Halo composers sue Microsoft over unpaid royalties dating back 20 years"

Eurogamer - February 11, 2022

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-10-original-halo-music-composers-threaten-to-try-to-block-tv-show-amid-lawsuit-with-microsoft-over-unpaid-royalties

KUCERA v. DEP'T OF TRANSP.

140 Wn.2d 200 (2000)

http://courts.mrsc.org/supreme/140wn2d/140wn2d0200.htm

MYTH TOTAL SOUNDTRACK

https://vgmdb.net/album/13836

https://www.discogs.com/release/11927431-Martin-ODonnell-And-Michael-Salvatori-Myth-Total-Soundtrack/image/SW1hZ2U6MzQwMDE2Mzc=

https://www.discogs.com/release/11927431-Martin-ODonnell-And-Michael-Salvatori-Myth-Total-Soundtrack/image/SW1hZ2U6MzY4Nzc2NzA=

Works Made for Hire

Copyright Office Circular 30

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ30.pdf

MUSIC BITS

https://www.bmi.com/licensing/entry/types_of_copyrights

https://www.ascap.com/about-us/governance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_of_Composers,_Authors_and_Publishers

HOEG LAW VIDEOS

https://youtu.be/tT6AnLMbPaM

https://youtu.be/nMvp6M0g47c

***

"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

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(0:00) Introduction

(2:49) Amazon Games

(10:19) Peacock

(13:54) Creator Program

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(0:00) Introduction

(1:48) The Marty O'Donnell Interview

(6:18) Injunction Junction

(11:18) Myth and Money

(26:02) Halo Sold

(34:49) Conclusion

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash.

With Phil Spencer and Satya Nadella already out in force, Microsoft now moves to more formal PR mechanisms, introducing a long form promise to be the "good guys" as described by Microsoft President Brad Smith through the company's "issues" blog.

But what does it mean to assure Call of Duty's continued presence on PlayStation? And does the company really expect credit for self-serving promises already made?

It's always good when a multi-national, multi-trillion dollar company pledges to *follow the law*, but we question whether it really deserves a cookie...in Virtual Legality.

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

#Activision #Microsoft #Antitrust

***

WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

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

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SEASONED GAMING BITCAST - SUNDAYS AT 11:00 EASTERN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

02:22 Answering the Call of Duty

03:50 An Epic Callback

07:02 PR Promises

15:38 Principles and Principals

25:37 Laws in the Pipeline

28:46 Answering the Call Part 2

32:25 Xboxes and Double Standards

38:37 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Microsoft x Activision"

Hoeg Law Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

An Antitrust Epic

Hoeg Law Playlist

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

HOEG LAW VIDEOS

https://youtu.be/i4-vxNc3H3Y

https://youtu.be/G82ZnoHQ3NA

TWEETS

https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/1484273335139651585

DOCUMENTS/ARTICLES

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/02/09/open-app-store-principles-activision-blizzard/

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/10/08/app-store-fairness-caf-interoperability-principles/

https://app.box.com/s/6b9wmjvr582c95uzma1136exumk6p989/file/807135002509

https://appfairness.org/

https://www.theverge.com/22914479/open-app-markets-act-legislation-senate-committee-markup-explained

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/07/15/the-nintendo-switch-oled-estimated-to-cost-only-10-more-per-unit-to-make/

***

"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

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(0:00) Introduction

(2:22) Answering the Call of Duty

(3:50) An Epic Callback

(7:02) PR Promises

(15:38) Principles and Principals

(25:37) Laws in the Pipeline

(28:46) Answering the Call Part 2

(32:25) Xboxes and Double Standards

(38:37) Conclusion

California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) tried and has (so far) failed to stop the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from settling with Activision, but the two agencies' fight has only gotten uglier as California continues to escalate things.

"Collusion" never changed, into something real...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/-sYU2iNlkio

#Activision #California #EEOC

***

WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

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

STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg

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

***

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

02:44 A Blocked Intervention

07:41 A Friend of the Court

15:02 Stopping the Proceedings/Misreading a Merger

24:09 Fighting in the Footnotes

44:44 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Activision Under Fire: A Legal View"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9PBxr5dNcoQLh2erIt2XrZ

HOEG LAW VIDEOS

https://youtu.be/JgploLS9T5s

https://youtu.be/ukwpsMqp5ic

ACTIVISION VS EEOC FILINGS

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.46.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.53.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.58.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.60.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.63.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570/gov.uscourts.cacd.832570.62.0.pdf

TWEETS AND SECURITIES FILINGS

https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1483809973155024897

https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1483893837516918793

https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000718877/000110465922005154/tm223212d3_8k.htm

***

"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

Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash.

Now CEO of Microsoft (and Phil Spencer's boss) Satya Nadella is making the rounds, and like all other comments from Microsoft in the past two weeks, he seems intent on making sure the FTC knows there's "nothing to see here".

CEO's don't generally lie, but they often don't say quite everything they mean...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/6-ONxevvpSQ

#Activision #Microsoft #Antitrust

***

WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

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

STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg

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

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Microsoft x Activision"

Hoeg Law Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

ARTICLES

https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-ceo-doesnt-see-activision-blizzard-acquisition-blocked?utm_source=twitter

https://www.gamesradar.com/microsoft-ceo-brushes-off-antitrust-concerns-around-activision-deal-even-post-this-acquisition-we-will-be-number-three/

***

"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

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