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NLJ this week: The rise (& rise) of e-sports

10 September 2020
Issue: 7901 / Categories: Legal News , Sports litigation
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E-sports is the next frontier in sports law, an industry worth US$1.5bn in the US and growing, write Hailsham Chambers barrister Theo Barclay & RISQ financial analyst Harry Burley in this week’s NLJ

‘The courts in England and Wales are yet to deal with substantive e-sports claims but the fast-growing nature of the industry and the commercial naivety of many participants means this will not be the case for long,’ Barclay & Burley write.

In a fascinating article, they cover some of the opportunities and challenges in this field for sports litigators.  

In a sign of the fast-growing popularity of the industry, broadcasters such as Sky Sports are venturing into the market, although most live gameplay is currently broadcast on YouTube, Facebook or Twitch.

In 2017 106 million fans streamed the League of Legends tournament—more people than watched the Superbowl that year.

Potential disputes could involve contracts, employment rights, intellectual property, sponsorship, advertising and match-fixing.

Issue: 7901 / Categories: Legal News , Sports litigation
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
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Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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