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2023-2024 Esports and the Law 1 (2023-2024)

handle is hein.hackboth/esprtlw2023 and id is 1 raw text is: Spring 2023 Esports and the Law[l Five Things to Consider When Reviewing Esports Contracts B IJoseh Ese? T he world of esports is growing at an exponential rate, and, as such, so are the number of contracts being entered into by professional players, teams, sponsors, and tournament organizers. These con- tracts can range from endorsement deals to tournament participation agreements, and it's important for all parties involved to understand the terms and conditions of these agreements before signing on the dotted line. As with any contract, the devil is in the 1 Joseph Esses, J.D., M.B.A. is an Associate Attorney at the Gordon Law Group assisting clients in the Esports space. Joseph can be reached at joee@gordonlawltd.com details, and it's essential to understand the terms outlined in the agreement and their potential impact on the parties involved. Here are some key things to look forwhen reviewing an esports contract: Term of the Contract The term of a contract is a critical com- ponent in the world ofesports. It outlines the specific time frame during which the agreement will be in effect, setting the beginning and end dates of the contractual relationship between the parties. This is especially important in the fast-paced world of esports, where new opportunities and technologies are constantly emerging. See CONTRACTS on Page 6 i~r A'] 'JIIIi0L'Y'1 Five Things to Consider When Reviewing Esports Contracts Emerging Issues Involving Gender and Religion Surface in Esports Cedar Fair Announces First Phase of Development for Esports Facility in Sandusky A New Meta: Esports Injuries and the Changing Health Standards in the Industry Cheat Sellers Beware, Game Developers Are Not Playing When It Comes to Integrity Emerging Issues Involving Gender and Religion Surface in Esports By Jared Good, Esq. Although Esports are oft debated on whether they are a true sport by the conventional metrics, they still are plagued with the same issues that face the traditional sports; namely diver- sity and inclusion; doping (medicinal and mechanical); and opportunity to compete. The focus of this article will focus on the first main issue, specifically gender and religious inclusion. If I were to ask you to imagine the average esports professional player, avery large percentage would immediately picture an individual that is male and likely between the ages of 15-25ish. This is obviously a largely generalized and gender-norm subscribing view that plays to the idea that only men playvideo games, which is avery outdated belief as stats taken from 2021 indicate that upwards of 41.5% of video game players in the United States are female. Religion in video games is another area that has provided contention over the years with how various religious themes are depicted. Admittedly, there is not a hefty discussion of religion involved in the world ofesports, but to build the founda- tion for what role religion plays in the es- ports sphere, it is necessary to understand the premise of religion in gaming at-large. For years the gaming industry has faced controversy for presentation of real-world issues and ideas in a manner that lays bare the hypocrisy of everyday life, while simultaneously stripping away the fagade of eternal goodness and exposing true evils that exist. It's no wonder that video games are always targeted as evidence of increased violence in society, even when numerous studies have rebuked those findings. Understanding these basic ideas See ESPORTS on Page 7 I~S COYIH 022HAKEPULCTOS (HCNYPBIAIOSCM 1