Game Contracts & Publishing Agreements
Drafting, review and negotiation of development, publishing, IP licensing and other commercial agreements, including cross-border arrangements.
Service Overview
From initial planning and development through testing, publishing, joint operations, and ongoing operations, game projects typically involve a range of parties: developers, publishers, IP rights holders, distribution platforms, technology providers, marketing agencies, and esports partners.
Transaction risks often arise not from the absence of a contract, but from terms that fail to accurately reflect product workflows, technical deliverables, the scope of each party’s rights, and payment and revenue-sharing arrangements.
For projects involving China, these arrangements are often cross-border: a single project may involve counterparties, governing laws and dispute resolution forums in more than one jurisdiction.
Scope of Services
Development & Production Contracts: We advise on commissioned development, co-development, and outsourcing agreements for programming, artwork, and music, addressing changes to project requirements, delivery and acceptance procedures, and ownership of deliverables and related IP.
Publishing & Channel Partnerships: We advise on publishing, joint operation, and platform partnership agreements, covering licensed territories, permitted platforms, exclusivity, marketing obligations, revenue-sharing calculations and payments, and audit provisions.
IP Licensing & Commercial Partnerships: We advise on the scope and duration of licenses, content review and approval procedures, and revenue-sharing arrangements for game adaptations, character collaborations, brand partnerships, and merchandise development.
Contract Performance & Exit Arrangements: We draft and refine provisions on confidentiality, IP warranties, liability for breach of contract, and termination. We also address the handover of source files, accounts, and data, together with service transition arrangements for existing users.
Esports Events & Commercial Partnerships: We advise on tournament organization, agreements involving esports clubs and players, sponsorship, live streaming and broadcasting arrangements, prize money allocation, and tournament rules.