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The Challenges of Regulating E-Doping
For those who follow the NHL, Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was recently suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.[1] From Barry Bonds to Lance Armstrong, doping in sports has a long history. However, with the rise of esports, a parallel phenomenon known as “e-doping” is emerging as a significant […]
The End of Nintendo Switch Gold Points
Hi all, I recently saw some articles on Nintendo ending their Gold Points system for the Switch on March 25, 2025 at 12:30am ET. This came as a surprise to me (and many others online it seems), as the Gold Points system had been very well received. The loyalty program allowed customers to earn back […]
The UK Government Responds to the Problem with Digital Games
Hi everyone, As you may have seen in my previous post there are growing concerns regarding the issue of digital media (like video games) only offering a license to play for consumers and various questions that needs answers in relation to players ownership of digital games. Gamers have taken action in the UK by creating […]
Epic Games is being sued over deceptive Item Shop timers in Fortnite
Epic Games is facing a lawsuit over allegedly deceptive sales tactics in the Fortnite Item Shop. The lawsuit claims that Epic used misleading expiration timers to pressure players into making impulse purchases. The timers would suggest that items were available for a limited time, only for the same items to return to the shop shortly […]
Women Representation in Video Games: Split Fiction
On March 6, 2025, Hazelight Studios released Split Fiction, a co-op video game where protagonists, Zoe and Mio, get lured to a tech company with the prospect of publishing their novels. However, what ends up happening is that their brains get stripped of every story they have ever conjured, wind up in their fantastical stories, […]
Canada’s Reliance on the ESRB Rating System
In Canada’s economic sphere, there has been some momentum toward removing interprovincial trade barriers, which could help reduce Canada’s economic dependence on its neighbours.[1] Perhaps Canada’s video game industry would benefit from revisiting Sara Grimes, Darshana Jayemanne, and Seth Giddings’ article “Rethinking Canada’s Approach to Children’s Digital Game Regulation.”[2] In this article, Sara Grimes—whom Professor […]
Nintendo wins piracy lawsuit against French file-sharing website
After a lengthy legal battle spanning several years, a French court held that file-sharing website 1fichier.com is “liable for failing to remove or block access to unauthorized copies of Nintendo games stored on this platform.” In 2021, a court in Paris held that this website was was liable for €935,000 in damages to Nintendo for […]
Game Genie v. Nintendo – Case Overview and Opinion
Hi everyone, In our presentation last week on cheating in video games, we talked about different ways players can “hack” their games—whether it’s using cheat codes, mods, or external devices. During the discussion, Professor Festinger brought up the Game Genie case (Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.), and our guest speakers also […]
Pokémon Special – Presentation Discussion Outline
Hi everyone, Welcome to the world of Pokémon…lawsuits! We (Celine, Chloe, Clara, Jenny, Scott, and Victoria) are excited to bring you our discussion outline for our presentation next Tuesday. As you may have guessed, our presentation will feature Nintendo and the various cases and legal questions that have emerged around Nintendo’s popular franchise Pokémon. We […]
When Game Characters Get “Duped”: The Case Of Amazon.Com Inc v. Chen Jing
Hey All! While looking through Lexis, I found a decision out of the U.S. District Courts in Western Washington that might be of interest to some people. There is not much information out about the case since it just concluded earlier this week. It concerns the practice of copying and distributing the physical manifestations of […]