Toys for Kids & Adults

EA SIGNS MASSIVE DEAL

Late last month video game giant EA entered into an agreement with in-game advertiser Massive through which various EA games will be included in Massive’s advertising network. As a result, EA games will include dynamic in-game advertisements which can be updated seamlessly and in real time.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/falaprudretiho(TechNewsWorld)

CLINTON'S CAMRA

The U.S. Senate has passed the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (“CAMRA”). CAMRA aims to foment research on the effect of modern media (including the Internet and video games) on children.  Senator Clinton, one of CAMRA's main supporters, is reported to have stated that  CAMRA "is one more step in the right direction" and that it "will provide parents with better, more current facts about the impact of this new media dominating our kids' lives."

coverage at:http://shorl.com/guprupohalagi (GameDaily)

PLAYERS LOSE VIRTUAL FORTUNES IN ON-LINE BANK SCAM

Here’s another dispatch from the wacky world of virtual property. Various players in the on-line game “Eve Online” gave large amounts of in-game currency to another player who operated an in-game on-line bank. The purported banker then made off with all the money, which caused quite a stir in the Eve Online community. However, the game’s terms of use and EULA are permissive, and allow all sort of cons, swindles and thefts.

The interesting question is whether in-game activities like the bank con (which are permitted by the game’s EULA) should have any real-world consequences. Arguably they shouldn’t, seeing as how it’s all part of a game and doesn’t involve real money. The flip side, of course, is that in-game items and currency (including Eve Online currency) can be bought and sold outside of the game for real-world money. Did the victims of the scam lose something with real-world value? Should they be entitled to seek real-world remedies? If so, from whom? We don’t have quick answers for these questions, but this story is another good example of the issues raised by virtual property.

Coverage at: http://shorl.com/fefruminosapy(News.com)

Atari's Parent Suspended

Now Atari, Inc.’s parent company, Infogrames Entertainment SA, has been suspended from the French stock exchange due to continuing operation related issues.

Lately, Infogrames has been struggling with losses and massive debts. In order to bring down the debt, Infogrames has been selling its properties and a number of entertainment studios.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/difygrodobede(Gamasutra)

THE ANTS GO MARCHING ONE BY ONE TO COURT

Red Octane (the publisher of Guitar Hero) has sued the Ant Commandos for selling wireless guitar controllers for use with the game.  Red Octane claims Ant Commandos copied Guitar Hero packaging and advertising materials, in violation of Red Octane’s copyrights and trade-marks. They also claim false advertising with respect to Ant Commandos’ claims that the guitar controllers work properly with the PS2.

Interestingly, Red Octane is facing IP lawsuits for its own activities. Konami claims that Red Octane’s dance game Groove violates Konami’s patents relating to Dance Dance Revolution, and KnuckleBonz claims Red Octane’s use of GUITAR HERO violates KnuckleBonz’s trade-mark rights in that name.

Coverage of the marching ants is here: http://www.shorl.com/fadredrufrarine(Gamespot)

ANOTHER GAMING PATENT LAWSUIT

Online instant chat company Paltalk has sued Microsoft for patent infringement. The lawsuit claims that Xbox Live violates two of Paltalk’s US patents which cover online communications.

This lawsuit follows several other major patent lawsuits in the gaming industry, including Agere v. Sony (relating to PSP and PS2 technology), Immersion v. Sony (relating to Sony’s Dual Shock controllers), Yahoo! v. XFire (relating to Yahoo!’s Game Prowler IM application) AVG v. Atari (relating to AVG’s patent for spherical panning) and Lucent v. Microsoft (relating to the 360’s method of decoding MPEG-2 files).

It’s also interesting from a Microsoft perspective, considering that earlier this spring Microsoft was awarded its 5,000^thUS patent. 

Coverage of Paltalk lawsuit here: http://www.shorl.com/hamelibakubi

UBISOFT LOSES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Ubisoft is justifiably annoyed that a file containing confidential information and images about upcoming games has made its way onto the Internet. An inquisitive web surfer pulled the file from Ubisoft’s FTP site and posted it on the web; the information is disseminating rapidly.

Confidential information or trade secrets can be among a company’s most valuable assets, and it is important to protect them carefully (including by using legal documents such as confidentiality agreements and non-disclosure agreements, as well as by implementing effective technological and physical security procedures and practices). This is particularly true in the digital and high-tech context, where hackers and techies delight in ferreting out and distributing information that companies would rather keep confidential.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/defrusemileni(GameSpot)