Virtual Legality

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Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is facing one of the most precarious times of his long reign at the video game publisher.

Now, the Activision Board has taken its own steps to try to quell the outrage, announcing a "Workplace Responsibility Committee" in a late night press release. Who's on it? How does it work? And why are some folks even more upset?

Perhaps its time to send Jar Jar in to solve this thing...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/8wrQ1-kG6Zc

#Activision #UnderFire #Committee

***

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:

"Activision Under Fire: A Legal View"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

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

"Activision Blizzard Board of Directors Continues to Build Upon Its Ongoing Oversight With New “Workplace Responsibility Committee” to Ensure Implementation of Initiatives to Eliminate Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace"

Activision Press Release - November 22, 2021

https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/activision-blizzard-board-directors-continues-build-upon-its

Activision Webpages

https://www.activisionblizzard.com/content/atvi/activisionblizzard/ab-touchui/ab/web/en/board-of-directors.html

https://investor.activision.com/by-laws-

https://activisionblizzard.com/content/atvi/activisionblizzard/ab-touchui/ab/web/en/leadership/claudine-naughton.html

https://www.activisionblizzard.com/leadership/frances-townsend

"Buffy was a toxic environment..."

Tweet - Februrary 10, 2021 - Amber Benson

https://twitter.com/amber_benson/status/1359555694098190337

"Activision Blizzard hires senior Disney and Delta execs"

GIBiz - September 15, 2021

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-14-activision-blizzard-hires-senior-disney-and-delta-execs

"Activision Blizzard’s New ‘Solution’ Must Spur Actual Action From Sony, Microsoft And Nintendo"

Forbes - November 23, 2021

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/11/23/activision-blizzards-new-solution-must-spur-actual-action-from-sony-microsoft-and-nintendo/?sh=2350b1da14af

"Activision's Damage Control Reaches Sad New Low"

Kotaku - November 22, 2021

https://kotaku.com/activisions-damage-control-reaches-sad-new-low-1848107710

***

"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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Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is facing one of the most precarious times of his long reign at the video game publisher.

Now, reports of the CEO's willingness to step down have been reported to the Wall Street Journal, but everything is not as it otherwise might appear. For if there's one thing a public CEO knows...it's how to say something without giving up much.

To Bobby Kotick, you say it best when you say nothing at all...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/DZuh5FVVjOM

#Activision #UnderFire #Kotick

***

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:

"Activision Under Fire: A Legal View"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

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

"Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick Tells Colleagues He Would Consider Leaving if He Can’t Quickly Fix Problems"

Wall Street Journal - November 21, 2021

https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-blizzard-ceo-bobby-kotick-tells-colleagues-he-would-consider-leaving-if-he-cant-quickly-fix-problems-11637533064

"Report: Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Will 'Consider' Quitting If He Can't 'Fix' Company's Culture"

Kotaku - November 21, 2021

https://kotaku.com/report-activision-ceo-bobby-kotick-will-consider-quitt-1848100036

***

"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

(3:15) YouTubes Statement

(9:40) YouTubes Response

(13:03) YouTubes Framing

(16:23) What YouTube Has Done

(19:55) Conclusion

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(0:00) Introduction

(2:38) Employees Petition for Kotick's Removal

(5:05) Girls Who Code Turns Down (Potentially) Millions

(8:20) Xbox Joins Sony in Condemnation

(10:29) Will Sony or Xbox Actually DO Anything?

(19:17) Conclusion

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is facing one of the most precarious times of his long reign at the video game publisher. Now, long time business partners like PlayStation and the company's own employees are demanding answers that the embattled publisher seems unable to give.

Activision's version of zero tolerance might be a bit different from yours or mine...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/qkp7QYEr3kk

#WSJ #Activision #BobbyKnew

***

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

01:03 Sony Speaks

12:13 A Parsing Aside

14:35 Zero Tolerance for Thee

20:03 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Everybody vs Activision Blizzard: A Legal View"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

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

"Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew for Years About Sexual-Misconduct Allegations at Videogame Giant"

Wall Street Journal - November 16, 2021

https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680

"Sony's Jim Ryan critical of Activision Blizzard response to Kotick report"

GamesIndustryBiz - November 17, 2021

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-17-sonys-jim-ryan-critical-of-activision-blizzard-response-to-kotick-report

"PlayStation Chief Criticizes Activision's Response to Crisis"

Bloomberg - November 17, 2021

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-17/playstation-chief-criticizes-activision-response-to-allegations

"Activision staff question whether zero tolerance policy applies to Kotick"

GamesIndustryBiz - November 18, 2021

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-18-activision-blizzard-staff-question-whether-zero-tolerance-policy-applies-to-kotick

"CEO BOBBY KOTICK OUTLINES PROGRESS AND COMMITMENTS"

Activision Website - October 28, 2021

https://activisionblizzard.com/newsroom/2021/10/ceo-bobby-kotick-outlines-progress-and-commitments

***

"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 CEO Bobby Kotick is facing one of the most precarious times of his long reign at the video game publisher. As the Board of Directors issues a vote of confidence, other stakeholders re-examine their own.

It's hard to feel confident when you need a vote of confidence...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/yoKQmY3mpU0

#WSJ #Activision #BobbyKnew

***

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

03:02 The Board's Vote of Confidence

08:15 Walkouts and A Better ABK

14:13 Jen Oneal Speaks on Pay Disparity

22:16 Shareholder Group Calls for Resignation

27:12 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Everybody vs Activision Blizzard: A Legal View"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

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

"Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew for Years About Sexual-Misconduct Allegations at Videogame Giant"

Wall Street Journal - November 16, 2021

https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680

"Activision Blizzard Board of Directors Issues Statement Regarding Recent Article"

Activision Website - November 16, 2021

https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/activision-blizzard-board-directors-issues-statement-regarding

"Directors’ Fiduciary Duties: Back to Delaware Law Basics"

Skadden Website - February 19, 2020

https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2020/02/directors-fiduciary-duties

"Bobby Kotick must resign"

Polygon - November 16, 2021

https://www.polygon.com/22785788/bobby-kotick-resign-activision-blizzard-controversy-allegations

A Better ABK Tweets (November 16, 2021)

https://twitter.com/ABetterABK/status/1460709188070518786

https://twitter.com/ABetterABK/status/1460671347382755329

"Activision Blizzard workers walk out, call for CEO Bobby Kotick’s resignation"

Polygon - November 16, 2021

https://www.polygon.com/22786117/activision-blizzard-walk-out-bobby-kotick-resignation-demands

"A MESSAGE FROM CEO BOBBY KOTICK"

Activision Website

https://www.activisionblizzard.com/newsroom/2021/11/a-message-from-ceo-bobby-kotick

"Former Blizzard Co-Lead Jen Oneal Says She Was Offered Equal Contract Only After Resigning"

IGN - November 17, 2021

https://www.ign.com/articles/blizzard-jen-oneal-mike-ybarra-equal-pay-after-resignation

"Group of Activision Blizzard shareholders joins call for CEO Bobby Kotick’s resignation"

Washington Post - November 17, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/11/17/bobby-kotick-resignation-shareholders/

"About SOC Investment Group"

SOC Website

https://www.socinvestmentgroup.com/

***

"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

(1:03) Sony Speaks

(12:13) A Parsing Aside

(14:35) Zero Tolerance for Thee

(20:03) Conclusion