Gaming & Esports

Our firm provides comprehensive legal services to stakeholders across the gaming industry—including major publishers, industry associations, sponsors, league and event organizers, and professional players. We advise on a wide range of issues, including compliance with the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, the Payment Services Act, the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, and the Entertainment Business Act.

We also review and draft player and management contracts, prepare game licensing agreements, and provide ongoing legal counsel to esports and gaming businesses. In addition, we operate a dedicated website on esports and gaming law, which can be accessed here.

Selected Matters

1. Regulatory & Compliance

  • Acted for publishers in submitting a filing to the Financial Services Agency as a prepaid payment instrument issuer, continuing to serve as their local representative.
  • Advised publishers on item sales and monetization in Japan, with respect to the Payment Services Act and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.
  • Advised ublishers on required disclosures under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions for in-game currency sales.
  • Provided legal advice to publishers on marketing practices in Japan, including compliance with the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.
  • Advised a publisher on advertising campaigns (TV and out-of-home), covering unfair premium regulation, trademark law, and local ordinances.

2. Market Entry & Expansion

  • Served as legal counsel for the Japanese market entry of a European game publisher.
  • Represented a European publisher in conducting gaming law compliance due diligence for Japanese distribution.
  • Provided full legal support to a U.S. publisher entering Japan, including subsidiary establishment, joint development agreements, and labor law issues.
  • Advised a game distributor on its entry into the Japanese market and subsequent operations.
  • Serve as Japan Representative for major game publishers.

3. Dispute Resolution & Enforcement

  • Represented publishers in connection with counterfeit goods infringing trademarks being sold on e-commerce platforms.
  • Represented a professional esports team in a dispute regarding the termination of a player contract.
  • Advised on IP protection for U.S. and European developers in game development, covering characters, in-game objects, logos, and titles.

4. Corporate & Transactions

  • Provided Japanese law advice in connection with a U.S. company’s acquisition of a game publisher.
  • Drafted and advised on sponsorship agreements for esports and gaming events for European publishers.
  • Drafted the Global Rulebook for a tournament organized by a European developer, providing advice under Japanese law.
  • Advised a European publisher on a fan art contest from a Japanese legal perspective.

Selected Publications

M&A / Market Entry

Esports

Regulatory Compliance

IP & Brand Protection