Game Studios Age Ratings and COPPA: What Studios Building Kids' Games Actually Need to Know An ESRB E rating doesn't create a COPPA safe harbor — and Epic Games' $275 million penalty proved it. Here's how the FTC actually determines whether your game is 'directed to children,' what the 2025 COPPA amendments changed, and what minimum viable compliance looks like for indie studios.
Game Studios The EU Digital Services Act for Indie Game Studios: What Applies to You The EU's Digital Services Act applies to US game studios selling to European players — and it's been in force since February 2024. Here's how to figure out which obligations apply to your studio and what to do about them.
EdTech Age-Mixed Audiences Under COPPA: How Apps Navigate the Actual Knowledge Standard COPPA doesn't just apply to apps built for kids. It applies to any app where the operator has actual knowledge children are using it — and that knowledge can come from user surveys, complaint logs, or platform partner reports. Here's how mixed-audience products navigate the compliance framework.
Game Studios AI-Generated Assets in Games: Copyright, Ownership, and the Risks Studios Are Walking Into Studios are building games with AI-generated art, audio, and code — but the legal framework hasn't caught up. Here's what the copyright gaps mean for your IP, your deals, and your investors.
Game Studios Loot Box Laws by Jurisdiction: What Indie Game Studios Must Know Loot box regulation varies dramatically by jurisdiction — from criminal penalties in Belgium to mandatory probability disclosure in Korea to FTC enforcement in the US. Here's how indie studios should structure their mechanics and compliance before launching globally.
Founders Earnouts, Bad Faith, and a Chatbot: What Fortis Advisors v. Krafton Means for Founders Who Sell A Delaware court ordered Krafton to reinstate the ousted Subnautica 2 CEO after its own chief executive used ChatGPT to engineer a 'takeover' and dodge a $250M earnout. Here is what founders who sell their companies should take from the ruling.
Game Studios Steam, Epic, and Itch.io: What Indie Studios Actually Agree To in Distribution Contracts Most developers click through platform distribution agreements without reading them. Steam's 70/30 cut is the detail everyone knows. The unilateral amendment clause, MFN provision, and Valve's right to delist your game are what matter when something goes wrong.
Game Studios Indie Studio Formation and IP: Structuring Your Game Company from Day One Most indie studios ship their first game before signing a single IP assignment agreement — and discover the problem during publisher due diligence. Here's the legal checklist: entity choice, IP assignment, trademarks, contractor agreements, and exit readiness.
Game Studios Distribution Platform Agreements: What Indie Developers Need to Know About Steam, Epic, and Console Store Terms Steam's Steamworks agreement, Epic's developer terms, and console store contracts impose real legal obligations on indie developers — not just revenue splits. Here's what each platform actually claims, what it can do to your game and account, and what you can push back on.
Game Studios AI-Generated Assets in Your Game: Who Owns Them, and What Do You Have to Disclose? Fully AI-generated game assets have no copyright protection under current U.S. law. Your contractor's IP assignment clause may transfer nothing when they use AI tools. Steam requires disclosure before you can ship. Here's what to do about all three.
Game Studios Age Ratings and COPPA: What Indie Studios Need to Know If your game is aimed at kids or teens — or even if you didn't intend it that way but kids play it anyway — age ratings and COPPA compliance are not optional. Here's what applies to indie studios and what compliance requires.
Game Studios AI-Generated Game Assets: Copyright, Contracts, and Platform Disclosure If your studio uses AI-generated art, music, or writing, you have IP exposure your contracts almost certainly don't cover — and platform disclosure requirements with hard deadlines. Here's what copyright law, your contractor agreements, and Steam's content survey actually require.
Game Studios The Digital Services Act and Your Game: What Indie Studios Have to Do The EU Digital Services Act has been in force since February 2024. If your game has in-game chat, UGC, or cloud features serving EU players, your studio may have direct DSA obligations — even as a small indie studio. Here’s what the law requires, and where smaller studios get a break.
Game Studios Lootbox Laws by Jurisdiction: What Indie Studios Must Know Before Launch Lootbox regulation is a patchwork — what's legal in the US may get your game pulled from Belgium, and the Netherlands has issued million-euro fines. Here's the jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction breakdown indie studios need before launch.
Game Studios Indie Game Studio Formation and IP Basics: What Every Dev Needs to Know Entity formation, IP ownership, copyright registration, and trademark protection — the legal fundamentals every indie game studio needs before shipping.
Startup Central Loot Boxes & the Law: A Compliance Playbook for Gaming Startups Loot boxes mix money, chance, and often minors, creating concentrated legal exposure. This playbook gives gaming founders a risk framework, jurisdictional red-flag map, product design safeguards, and a pre-launch compliance checklist to reduce legal risk.
Startup Central The Essential Role of a Lawyer for Tabletop Games on Kickstarter: Legal Guidance for Startups and Businesses Table of contents Loading AudioNative Player... The Essential Role of a Lawyer for Tabletop Games on Kickstarter: Legal Guidance for Startups and Businesses Introduction Launching a tabletop game on Kickstarter is not just about creative design and compelling gameplay; it’s also about navigating a maze of legal challenges that
Startup Central How a Startup Lawyer Can Be a Game Changer for Your Business Table of contents Loading AudioNative Player... In the fast-paced world of startups, the difference between success and failure often hinges on how well you manage risk, structure your business, and navigate complex legal landscapes. While many entrepreneurs focus on product development and market penetration, one aspect should never be overlooked—
Startup Central Navigating the Legal Landscape of Loot Boxes: Compliance for Gaming Startups Table of contents Loading AudioNative Player... As gaming companies increasingly leverage monetization strategies such as loot boxes, significant legal challenges have emerged regarding compliance with children's privacy laws. This article examines the FTC's recent settlement with Cognosphere, shedding light on the obligation of gaming startups to
