Interesting Berkman Center Conference Live Webcast: Wednesday Feb. 6

Live Webcast: Social Media and Behavioral Economics Conference: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2013/02/social-media-and-behavioral-economics-conference.html And lucky you, it ends before class Wednesday if you are in the mood to get up at 6 AM. jon

“Call of Duplicity?”

“Call of Duplicity?”

Disturbing and fascinating. Anyone care to apply the “Double Standards Test” to this? “Shooters: How Video Games Fund Arms Manufacturers”: Simon Parkin Thursday, 31 January 2013 http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-01-shooters-how-video-games-fund-arms-manufacturers jon

Resale of used games – consumer protection issue?

Resale of used games – consumer protection issue?

Hot on the heals of yesterdays discussions (both Jas & I) regarding contractual prohibitions on the legalities/cases dealing with the re-sale of digital property (as well as Michela’s musings on digital property – scroll down under “What is Your Take”), check this out: German Consumer Advocacy Group Files Complaint Against Valve for Steam’s Used Games […]

In the “Pass the Q-Tips, did I hear that right department?”

Sen. Lamar Alexander: “Games are a Bigger Problem Than Guns: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2013/01/30/sen-lamar-alexander-games-are-bigger-problem-guns

Week 5

Jon’s Talk Jan.30, 2013: “Creators, Consumers & Users” Download the PowerPoint Slides Jas Purewal’s Talk: “Going Global: legal and business  issues for international games development and distribution” Download the PowerPoint Slides

‘Gaymers’ petition USPTO

An important and interesting story about  a group of Reddit users who are petitioning the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office claiming the term “gaymer” should remain in the public domain. “Reddit ‘Gaymers’ Fight Cease-and-Desist Letter claiming ‘gaymer’ is a word that should remain in the public domain”: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236068/Reddit_39_gaymer_39_group_fights_back_against_trademark Thoughts? jon

News during the week (sort of)….

Dr. Richard Smith, Director of the Centre for Digital Media & I are doing an SFU Philosophers’ Cafe this Wednesday night (January 30, 2012) at the Roundhouse at 7:30 PM. The title is “Creating and thriving in a post-intellectual property world.” Am sure you see quite enough of me – but just in case you […]

Wednesday’s Guest Speaker: Jas Purewal

Hello colleagues, Will and I wanted to give you a brief overview of Wednesday’s guest speaker. Jas Purewal is a lawyer at the London office of Osborne Clarke. He is a commercial and intellectual property lawyer with a focus on interactive entertainment and digital media. Jas is a regular commentator on recent developments in these […]

News of the Week; Jan. 23, 2013

1. Missouri lawmaker latest to propose “violent” games tax: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/01/missouri-lawmaker-latest-to-propose-violent-games-tax/ 2. 25 Video Game Violence Studies, Summarized: http://kotaku.com/5976781/25-video-game-violence-studies-summarized 3. I’m Mentally Ill, I Love Violent Video Games, And They’ve Never Made Me Feel Like Killing Anyone: http://kotaku.com/5976286/im-mentally-ill-i-love-violent-video-games-and-theyve-never-made-me-feel-like-killing-anyone 4. Video Games Hold No Answers: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-mones/video-games-violence_b_2480823.html 5. How the Legal System Failed Aaron Swartz—And Us by Tim Wu: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/everyone-interesting-is-a-felon.html 6. Aaron Swartz and the Corrupt Practice of Plea […]

Week 4

Jon’s Talk Jan. 23,2013: “Right to CREATe or Rights of Creation” Download the PowerPoint Slides Ian Verchere’s Talk: “Taking Games Literally: Games As Semiotic Domain” Download the PowerPoint Slides