Video games are built on creativity, connection, and risk-taking. The legal work that supports them isn’t all that different.
As games lawyers, we work with developers, publishers, platforms, and studios of all kinds. Some of our clients are launching their first game; others are scaling global franchises. The legal questions we help answer are often shaped by the same things that make games exciting: fast-moving technology, evolving business models, and complex storytelling.
With the Games Developers Conference (GDC) around the corner, we’ve been thinking about what this work really looks like and why we keep coming back to it.
We Help You Build Worlds and Protect Them
Every game is its own universe. Behind the art, gameplay, and storytelling is a foundation of code, design, and technology that needs to be protected.
Games lawyers help studios:
- Protect key assets like game code, art, characters, music, and titles through copyright, trademark, and, now more often, patent filings
- Negotiate publishing, licensing, and distribution deals that protect their IP and preserve creative control, both in the current game and in sequels, merchandise, and more
- Respond to threats like cloning, bots, asset theft, or unauthorized mods
You’ve spent time and energy building something original. Our job is to help make sure it stays yours.
We Help Studios Scale Smarter
Studios grow fast. That speed brings opportunities but also risks. Studios seek games counsel because they want to be making the kind of decisions that set them up for long-term success. That may include:
- Helping founders set up their company and equity splits in a way that avoids conflict down the road
- Advising on VC, publisher, or strategic investment, including how to maintain leverage in negotiations
- Supporting acquisitions or long-term planning for exit or IPO
We help startups find the right structure early, and we help later-stage companies plan for growth, investment, or acquisition without losing what makes them unique.
Guiding Through Uncharted Territory
Games law is full of gray areas. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how you monetize, moderate, or manage data, especially across different countries and audiences.
We help studios think through:
- How to apply and control AI in your game development and game play
- How to structure monetization strategies, like battle passes or loot boxes, to stay compliant with global rules
- How to manage user-generated content in a way that supports community without increasing liability
- What’s required to comply with international privacy and safety regulations, particularly for games that reach young or global audiences
If you’re unsure how certain features or policies might play out legally, games lawyers can help you test assumptions, weigh tradeoffs, and make informed decisions.
Understanding the Medium
It’s important to have games lawyers who understand your world. For example, at Fenwick, we’ve worked in this space for a long time, but we’ve also lived it. Many of us grew up playing games, arguing about builds, obsessing over story arcs, and staying up too late chasing high scores…and still do. It helps us understand the nuance behind a creative choice or community feature and the risks that might not be obvious on the surface.
We know how to talk to product teams and engineers. We understand the culture and business model. And we respect how much work goes into shipping something great.
Why This Work Matters
Being a lawyer in the games industry isn’t just about protecting IP or papering a deal. It’s about helping creators and companies move forward with confidence. It’s about spotting issues before they become problems and setting up legal infrastructure that supports (not slows down) creativity and growth.
As we head to the GDC, we’re looking forward to learning from our peers and hearing more about the challenges studios are navigating right now. Every game is different, but the goal is often the same: Build something bold and make it last.