Electronic Entertainment

Electronic entertainment is one of the most unique and highly specialized areas of entertainment law.  Starting in the 1970s with simple games such as Pong, and migrating through the years to dedicated video-game machines, the business has evolved into a multplatform entertainment medium that, in gross revenues, routinely exceeds the movie business.

Very few law firms in the United States have the necessary experience and expertise to assist clients in the full range of legal and business activities that arise in the course of the successful development, launch and marketing of electronic-entertainment products.  Alston & Bird is just such a firm - one of the few if not the only law firm in the United States that can provide "one-stop shopping" for the full range of services required by companies in the electronic entertainment business.  Our services include:

• Negotiation of rights for existing properties, in all media
• Development and negotiation of form agreements and project-based agreements for the creation and publishing of electronic games
• Development and negotiation of agreements for platform manufacturers including SDK agreements, third-party and first-party agreements
• Provision of the complete range of legal services necessary for the exploitation of wireless rights and of multiplayer rights, in all electronic media
• Competition of transactions relating to all other aspects of the gaming business, including porting, merchandise rights, sequel rights and rights in connection with the development of complete game franchises

In addition to our internationally recognized expertise in game content and software development, Alston & Bird has the added benefit of being one of the world's leading patent law firms.  Therefore, wherever new technology is introduced into the equation, Alston & Bird can meet the challenge  with a complete team of patent lawyers who dedicate 100 percent of their time to the electronics field.