Discussion – 2 units. Video games are a dominant force in entertainment, generating more revenue by far than the film and music industries combined. The industry touches an unusually wide cross-section of legal doctrines, from every type of intellectual property to privacy, torts, and the First Amendment. This course provides a rigorous but accessible survey of those doctrines as they apply to one of the world's largest industries, with each unit opening with a brief primer so that no prerequisites are required. Throughout, the course draws on both landmark cases (including the First Amendment applied to Grand Theft Auto) and recent litigation, all involving widely recognized titles. In addition to discussion, students will develop practical lawyering skills, working in teams to take opposing sides of real disputes, develop legal arguments from the record, and present and defend their positions. The course is designed to be valuable across practice settings, whether students are drawn to litigation, transactional work, or in-house counseling.
Final Assessment: Exam.
Grading Mode: Letter Grading.