Esports Law

Welcome, this libguide provides some insight into a few of the many legal issues that have arisen with the exceptional growth of esports in the last few years.  Click on the page tabs for brief and basic information on legal concepts that impact esports such as immigration law, intellectual property, and contract law.  

Electronic sports, more commonly referred to as esports or e-sports, include a wide range of competitive video game tournaments that are rapidly growing in popularity throughout both the United States and the world.¹ By 2021, esports globally are expected to have about 250 million enthusiasts and produce upwards of $1.6 billion in revenue.² If esports were considered to be a sport, it would represent the fastest growing segment of the commercial sports industry.³  Many men and women around the world are now able to make a living playing video games professionally.⁴ Players often compete in teams funded by investors and corporate sponsors at tournaments that feature prize pools for specific placements.⁵

With what may be considered the fastest growing sport in the world comes a plethora of legal issues and challenges for members of the legal community to face now and in the future.  While there are many different legal issues imposed by the rise of esports, this guide will focus on immigration law, intellectual property concerns, and contract law.

1-4. John T. Holden, et al., A Short Treatise on Esports and the Law: How America Regulates Its Next National Pastime, 2020 Univ. III. Law Rev 511 (2020).

5. Michael McTee, E-Sports: More than Just a Fad, 10 Okla. J.L. & Tech. 2-3 (2014).

HeinOnline:

• Michael McTee, E-Sports: More than Just a Fad, 10 Okla. J.L. & Tech. 2-3 (2014).
• Sean Comerford, International Intellectual Property Rights and the Future of Global E-Sports, 37 Brook. J. Int’l L. 623 (2012). 
• Dan L. Burk, Owning E-Sports: Proprietary Rights in Professional Computer Gaming, 161 U. Pa. L. Rev. 1535 (2013).
• John T. Holden, et al., The Future is Now: Esports Policy Considerations and Potential Litigation, 27 J. Legal Aspects Sport 46 (2017).
• Jas Pureqal & Isabel Davies, The eSports Explosion: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, 9 Landslide 24 (2016-2017).

Google Scholar:

• Eric Windholz, Governing Esports: Public Policy, Regulation and the Law, 1 Sports Law EJournal 1 (2020).
• Marios Paploukas, E-Sports Explosion: The Birth of Esports Law or Merely a New Trend Driving Change in Traditional Sports Law?, 24^th IASL Int’l Sports Law Congress (2018).
• Ryan P. Toomey, Upholding the Integrity of Esports to Successfully and Safely Legitimize Esports Wagering, 23 Gaming L. Rev. 1 (2019).