The use of blockchain technology for crypto games and token-based digital collectibles is on the rise. One of the first crypto games of note was CryptoKitties. It may turn out that CryptoKitties becomes to crypto games what...more
5/11/2018
/ Bank Secrecy Act ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Currency ,
FinCEN ,
Gambling ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Money Transmitter ,
Patent Applications ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchanges ,
Technology Sector ,
Token Sales ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Video Games ,
Virtual Currency
The flurry of proposed legislative activity around loot boxes continues. State Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South Saint Paul) introduced H.F. 4460in Minnesota this week. H.F. 4460 would prohibit game purchases that result in random...more
4/27/2018
/ Gambling ,
Gaming ,
Illegal Gambling ,
Internet ,
Minors ,
Mobile Apps ,
Online Gaming ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Retailers ,
Rewards ,
Video Games ,
Virtual Goods ,
Warning Labels
As we have previously reported, the subject of loot boxes has received increasing scrutiny around the world. In one of the most recent pronouncements, the Dutch Gambling Authority (the “Authority”) declared the loot box...more
According to a recent news article, the Korean FTC fined three game companies for allegedly not making clear disclosures regarding the odds associated with certain loot boxes. Loot boxes are items that players can win or buy...more
As previously reported, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s dismissal of a purported class action and held that a social casino game constituted illegal gambling under Washington law. According to...more
4/9/2018
/ Appeals ,
Casinos ,
Class Action ,
Dismissals ,
Gaming ,
Illegal Gambling ,
Mobile Apps ,
Popular ,
Reversal ,
Social Media ,
Websites
Blockchain technology is finding its way into every industry. Healthcare is no exception. According to a recent report by Deloitte, “blockchain technology has the potential to transform health care, placing the patient at the...more
4/4/2018
/ Blockchain ,
Data Management ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Security ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Information Technology ,
Medical Records ,
Patents ,
Patients ,
Smart Contracts ,
Technology Sector
As the number of blockchain-based patents and patent applications increases, more companies have become interested in pursuing these patents. Other companies still think that blockchain-based inventions are not patentable....more
4/2/2018
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Divided Infringement ,
Ethereum ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Inventions ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Section 101 ,
Technology Sector ,
USPTO
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s dismissal of a purported class action and held that a social casino game constituted illegal gambling under Washington law. According to the Court, all online or...more
3/30/2018
/ Appeals ,
Casinos ,
Class Action ,
Dismissals ,
Gaming ,
Illegal Gambling ,
Mobile Apps ,
Reversal ,
Social Media ,
Terms of Use ,
Transaction Fees ,
Transfer Fees ,
Virtual Currency
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are rapidly emerging as disruptive technologies. As has happened with many new technologies, particularly disruptive ones, a patent arms race is occurring. The number of patents...more
1/17/2018
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Design Patent ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Patent Applications ,
Patentability Search ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology Sector ,
USPTO ,
Utility Patents
Apple just announced a number of changes to its App Store Review Guidelines, including the requirement that apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the...more
The SEC issued a cease and desist order against Munchee’s $15 million ICO, opining that the tokens were securities for which no there was registration statement filed or in effect with the Commission nor a qualifying...more
We recently blogged on legal issues with loot boxes as a game mechanic, and some of the scrutiny to which they are being subjected. The debate continues on whether loot boxes are an illegal gambling mechanic, but at least for...more
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s LabCFTC recently released, “A CFTC Primer on Virtual Currencies.” This primer provides an overview of virtual currencies and their potential use-cases, helps outline the CFTC’s role...more
10/31/2017
/ Bitcoin ,
CFTC ,
Digital Currency ,
Financial Markets ,
FinTech ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
LabCFTC ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Token Sales ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Virtual Currency
A member of the United Kingdom’s Parliament has opened an inquiry into the legality of loot boxes. Loot boxes are virtual items that may be redeemed to receive a randomized selection of additional virtual items. Various...more
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) recently upheld the patentability of a video game-related patent, ruling the computer graphics features were not obvious over the prior art. The patent (US Patent 7,061,488) address...more
The Federal District Court in Delaware recently denied a motion to dismiss a patent infringement case involving a video game networking technology patent based on the patent allegedly being invalid for lack of...more
9/15/2017
/ Abstract Ideas ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Computer-Related Inventions ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Section 101 ,
Video Games
China has put a halt to Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in China. In a recent notice, China declared ICOs to be an illegal fund raising tool and indicated it is reviewing previous ICOs for possible fraudulent practices. Money...more
As the collective market cap of the cryptocurrencies has jump above $150 billion, traders and investors have accumulated significant gains. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Internal Revenue Service is stepping...more
As the number and dollar volume of Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) continue to increase, the SEC has taken a greater interest in this activity. As we previously reported, the SEC issued its initial ICO guidance on July 25,...more
The SEC has opined that, depending on the facts and circumstances of each individual ICO, the virtual coins or tokens that are offered or sold may be securities. If they are securities, the offer and sale of these virtual...more
A U.S. District Court Judge issued a preliminary injunction against enforcing a Milwaukee county ordinance requiring a permit before implementing certain AR location-based games. As we previously reported, Candy Lab AR,...more
The pro-bitcoin legislation trend continues. This month New Hampshire passed legislation that exempts persons using virtual currency from registering as money transmitters. Specifically, the law amends existing RSA 399-G,...more
Nevada has passed a pro-blockchain law that recognizes blockchain technology as a type of electronic record for the purposes of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and prohibits taxation and regulations regarding the use...more
CoKinetic Systems Corporation filed suit against Panasonic Avionics Corporation, seeking damages in excess of $100 million, in part, for violation of the GPL v2 open source license. CoKinetic alleged that Panasonic blocked...more
In a follow up to a lawsuit we previously reported on, a California District Court ruled on summary judgment that a horseracing-based fantasy sports game constitutes illegal wagering....more