What happens behind closed doors usually stays behind closed doors, but not for Phil Spencer and Jim Ryan, heads of Xbox and PlayStation.

While Activision dangles in limbo, things have really (really!) heated up between the two longtime videogame rivals with no signs of cooling down.

Let's discuss.

Yes, we sometimes choose our thumbnail images purely out of a sense of irony...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/uy2NR77PPyY

#sony #xbox #activision 

***
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***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction (Thanks, Nord)
01:34 A Strategy of Concession
09:14 Sony Punches Back
15:40 Closing Analysis

***
Discussed in this episode:

PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

ARTICLES
https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/2/23334619/microsoft-sony-call-of-duty-playstation-letter-commitment-activision-blizzard
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/tech/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-antitrust/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/business/economy/microsoft-activision-union.html
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/microsoft-activision-blizzard-deal-supported-labor-union-1235174379/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-xboxs-call-of-duty-offer-was-inadequate-on-many-levels

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

INADEQUATE! | Sony/Xbox Call Of Duty Feud Escalates Rapidly (VL711)

Many, many folks are wondering just when we might hear more on the saga of Microsoft x Activision's regulatory review here in the US.  Others are positing that the FTC is obligated to do something soon or stay silent forever more.  The reality is considerably more complex.

Let's discuss.

When the government has the leverage a deadline is just a "deadline"...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/u0jxYJw7BJ8

#xbox #activision #sony  

***
WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

UTREON - https://utreon.com/c/hoeglaw/
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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction (Thanks, FalkusVipus)
01:25 An Overview of the Review Process
04:48 The Practicalities of Regulatory Dealings
13:51 Indefinite Settlements and Lack of Approval
17:42 Conclusion

***
Discussed in this episode:

PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

VISUAL AID
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/u269/hsr-timeline.png

HSR SUMMARY
https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/mergers/premerger-notification-merger-review-process

LAW AND REGULATIONS
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/18a
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-803
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-803/section-803.3

FTC WARNING LETTER
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/competition-matters/2021/08/adjusting-merger-review-deal-surge-merger-filings

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

Is The FTC REALLY on a Timer? | "Deadlines" and Microsoft x Activision (VL712)

Halo has had a rocky history since 343 Industries took over its development, but there perhaps none more than now with the departure of the only studio head 343 has ever known.  

What does Bonnie Ross' leaving mean for the studio? For Halo?

We don't mess around with medical issues...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK  OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/rxrjyZlhiWo

#microsoft #halo #xbox 

***
WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

UTREON - https://utreon.com/c/hoeglaw/
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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction (Thanks, LadyEmily!)
01:16 Resignation and Medical Issues
07:45 Friendly Leaks and Negativity
14:41 Conclusion

***
Discussed in this episode:

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/PlutonForEver/status/1569370308444065794
https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1565441491090145280

ARTICLES
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/halo-head-bonnie-ross-is-leaving-343-industries-and-microsoft
https://www.polygon.com/23349308/halo-infinite-343-industries-founder-bonnie-ross-quits

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

Bonnie Ross Steps Down From 343 | Halo Steps Into The Unknown (VL713)

James Bond may have a license to kill, but that doesn't mean licensing his intellectual property has been easy over the years.  

Now, with the announcement of Nintendo Online and Game Pass versions of the classic Goldeneye game (originally on N64) questions have been raised around just why some features (like online) seem exclusive to the others.

Let's discuss.

Looks like Nintendo and Microsoft had lawyers with a license to bill...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/QS-LZ7D2tDs

#nintendo #microsoft #goldeneye 

***
WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

UTREON - https://utreon.com/c/hoeglaw/
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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
Discussed in this episode:

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1569693240315494403
https://twitter.com/RareLtd/status/1569693409467662337
https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1569717122510495744

GAMEFAQS (circa 2014)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/631516-wii-u/68660370?page=1

ARTICLES/PRESS RELEASES
https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/13/23162373/goldeneye-007-xbox-release-remaster-nintendo-switch
https://www.007.com/goldeneye-007-coming-to-nintendo-switch-online-xbox-gamepass/
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/09/13/james-bond-returns-goldeneye-007-on-game-pass/
https://www.thegamer.com/no-one-lives-forever-the-operative-legal-issues-explained/

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

LAWYER LOOKS | What's Up w/ Nintendo, Microsoft, and Goldeneye Online  (VL714)

Microsoft (Xbox) and Sony (PlayStation) have long been "rivals" in the console gaming space, but with Microsoft's acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision still pending, things seem to be heating way, way, up.  

What did Sony say to really escalate things?  Should deal followers be concerned with what's happening in the UK (CMA) and EU?  And just what would happen if only one jurisdiction gets upset.

Let's talk about it!

Begun the (real) console wars have...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/yTd0xquejY4

#nintendo #microsoft #goldeneye 

***
WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?

UTREON - https://utreon.com/c/hoeglaw/
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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
2:29 CMA/EU Update
10:55 Sony Shoots Its Shot
17:13 What if Someone Blocks?
22:43 Closing

***
Discussed in this episode:

PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/DaniellePartis/status/1570437933500452867
https://twitter.com/Butch4969/status/1570423699731275778

ARTICLE
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-activision-acquisition-expected-to-face-deeper-investigations-in-uk-eu

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

SONY ATTACKS XBOX+ACTIVISION DEAL | "Major Negative Implications" (VL715)

When what is likely to be one of the biggest releases in gaming history suffers a massive leak/hack of video footage, screenshots, and more, the industry pays attention.  But so do the lawyers.

Let's talk about Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstart, the DMCA, and more.

No developer wants their open world to be quite that open...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/JQ9wPxTdDso

#gta6 #gta6leaks #copyright 

***
NEW MERCH LINK: https://virtuallegalityshop.myshopify.com/

***
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BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
2:03 PART 1 - What Just Happened?
11:43 PART 2 - Let's Talk Law
26:54 Conclusion

***
Discussed in this episode:

ARTICLES
https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-gameplay-videos-reportedly-leak-grand-theft-auto
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/09/18/gta-6-suffers-massive-leak-of-90-gameplay-videos/?sh=f3eb8af11e4a
https://www.reuters.com/technology/take-twos-grand-theft-auto-vi-gameplay-leaked-online-bloomberg-news-2022-09-19/

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/LegacyKillaHD/status/1571491733506228224
https://twitter.com/RockstarGames/status/1571849091860029455/photo/1
https://twitter.com/LegacyKillaHD/status/1571609744548429826
https://twitter.com/LegacyKillaHD/status/1571804705713537024

SEC FILING
https://taketwointeractivesoftwareinc.gcs-web.com/static-files/d38e10c9-4abe-407f-9f3a-7f16f3118e20

SONY PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-ULKii2yP9AY-Emo1_G8xN

LAW
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512
https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-protect.html
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

GTA 6 LEAKS | Lawyer Looks at the DMCA, Copyright, and Stolen IP (VL716)

We've talked a lot about Twitch in Virtual Legality at this point, but at no time have we ever really been worried about the future of the platform...until now.

It's time to talk about gambling, both in the literal and figurative sense.

Sometimes its a corpse that twitches...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/XY-qHX0FVKA

#twitch #gambling #streaming 

***
NEW MERCH LINK: https://virtuallegalityshop.myshopify.com/

***
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL?

UTREON - https://utreon.com/c/hoeglaw/
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MERCH - https://virtuallegalityshop.myshopify.com/

BITCAST (Sundays 11AM Eastern) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

***
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
1:11 Twitch vs Gambling
10:00 Twitch vs Streamers
35:54 Conclusion

***
Discussed in this episode:

ARTICLES
https://kotaku.com/twitch-gambling-xqc-pokimane-stake-trainwreck-betting-1849560661
https://kotaku.com/top-twitch-streamers-fight-over-sketchy-gambling-stream-1847186269
https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/20/23363443/youtube-creator-music-licensing-program-monetizing-longform-videos

TWEETS
https://twitter.com/Twitch/status/1572347129192132611
https://twitter.com/Twitch/status/1572525437196148738
https://twitter.com/zachbussey/status/1572615009208786946
https://twitter.com/DevinNash/status/1572587986835099649

TWITCH BLOG
https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2022/09/21/a-letter-from-twitch-president-dan-clancy-on-subscription-revenue-shares/

ANCILLARY
https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/4145017/old_view/1697191267930157838
https://ir.aboutamazon.com/annual-reports-proxies-and-shareholder-letters/default.aspx
https://s2.q4cdn.com/299287126/files/doc_financials/2022/ar/Amazon-2021-Annual-Report.pdf
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/twitch-statistics/

***
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). 

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***
Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

Twitch Gambles It All | Cuts Revenue to its Most Valuable Streamers (VL717)

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, rules, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law) of Northville, Michigan.  

Rick has practiced for more than a decade at some of the country's largest law firms, representing IT, software, video game, and other technology companies, as well as the individuals and institutions which fund them.

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE.  INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

Any and all feedback is appreciated.  Let us know what you think!

Hoeg Law

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