Sean Kane

 

Legal Issues in Games in a Metaversal Market 

With the popularity of "Snow Crash" and "Ready Player One" companies in the industry are rushing to launch "THE METAVERSE", or at least a Metarverse. Games, concerts, movies and other events are already being held in-game. In the popular fictional depictions of the Metaverse all properties exist and are mixed-up together, but what is the legal implication of this? Can famous IP just be included on "Fair Use" grounds or is a license required? What is the legal status of NFTs and how will they fit into the Metaverse? How do user-created features or content impact the analysis. We will discuss these issues and share how real companies are working to overcome any legal obstacles in order to make their vision a reality.

Bio:

Sean F. Kane is Co-Chair of the Interactive Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit, where he represents a variety of companies in the video game and social media industries. Mr. Kane’s clients often are on the cutting-edge of media, content and technology creation where rapid innovation is leading to the birth of new products, companies and industries. He has considerable experience negotiating video game licenses and developer and publisher agreements, and in protecting the intellectual property rights of video games and related social media applications, including trademark and copyright protection, clearance and enforcement. Recognized by The Legal 500 and Irish Legal 100, Mr. Kane has also been included in The National Law Journal’s Trailblazers list for Sports/Gaming/Entertainment Law, and Variety magazine’s Dealmakers Elite New York list and Legal Impact Report