Course Details and Announcements

“The Next Frontier” – Canadian Lawyer, October 2014

“The Next Frontier” – Canadian Lawyer, October 2014

You may notice a familiar face on the cover of this months Canadian lawyer magazine. This essentially came as a surprise as I gave an interview many months ago and had  no idea whatsoever that I might end up on the cover of a magazine. It is particularly nice that video game law is identified […]

Week 7 Guest Speaker: Don McGowan of The Pokemon Company International

Week 7 Guest Speaker: Don McGowan of The Pokemon Company International

  This week Don McGowan of the Pokemon Company International will be making the trek north from his home in Seattle to join us. Don will talk about video game contracts and turning IP into a franchise. Don is particularly well qualified on these subjects. He has, since August 2008, been the General Counsel of […]

Panel Discussion on Orphan Works at Vancouver international Film Festival; October 10, 2014

Panel Discussion on Orphan Works at Vancouver international Film Festival; October 10, 2014

                    After the VIFF screening of the classic Canadian film “Bye Bye Blues” October 10, 2014  at the Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver B.C.), I will be on a panel discussing how the film was “recovered” using  section 77 of the Copyright Act dealing with […]

Can you use other companies’ trademarks in your video game? | Zachary C. Strebeck

Can you use other companies’ trademarks in your video game? | Zachary C. Strebeck

        Here is a nice piece that summarizes U.S. law in the wake of Dave Spratley’s talk to us last week: Can you use other companies’ trademarks in your video game? | Zachary C. Strebeck: Attorney at Law. jon

Week 6 Guest Speaker: Mavis Dixon of Ayogo Health Inc.

Week 6 Guest Speaker: Mavis Dixon of Ayogo Health Inc.

  Mavis Dixon is Manager of Projects and Engagement with Ayogo Health Inc.  Ayogo blends game technology, patient-centered health narratives and design thinking to create games for people with chronic health conditions.  A certified PM with a background in psychology, social media and marketing strategy, Mavis’s work has impacted the lives of millions of Canadians. […]

Week 5 Guest Speaker: David Spratley of Davis & Co.

Week 5 Guest Speaker: David Spratley of Davis & Co.

                    David Spratley of Davis LLP will be speaking to us on the subject of trademarks in games on October 1 , 2014. I had the great privilege of working with David for a while and it is hard to find a lawyer who is smarter […]

Games Are Not Coffee Mugs: Episodes 1 – 4

Professor William Ford of John Marshall Law School in Chicago has done game scholarship and pedagogy a great service. Professor Ford has been producing a great webcast series called “Games Are Not Coffee Mugs” (the first episode of which has already been posted here). All four episodes are important, useful and well worth watching. You […]

Week 4 Guest Speaker: Ian Verchere of Roadhouse Interactive

Ian Verchere who is co-founder and the Chief Creative of Roadhouse Interactive, a 50-person production and development company shaping the future of mobile, tablet and online games will be our guest next class.  Ian will share his views of  ongoing dialectic between creating and the law.Ian has been a great friend of the course, providing […]

Week 3 Guest Speaker: Roch Ripley of Gowlings

Roch Ripley is a great friend and co-author of the 2nd Edition of Video Game. He is a partner in Gowlings’ Vancouver office and is co-chair of their Technology Industry Group. He has been an Adjunct Professor in this course and has always been very supportive of its goals. He will be speaking to you […]

Week 2 Guest Speaker: Brian Dartnell of EA

We are very lucky to have Brian Dartnell who is Senior Counsel at Electronic Arts as our Guest Speaker. Brian has been with EA for almost 9 years and this will be his third time speaking to the class. Brian will be giving us an overview of the myriad roles counsel plays within a very […]