Copyright in esports.
The esports ecosystem generates an incredible volume of creative content beyond the games themselves. Esports players and teams produce streams, tutorials, highlight reels, and commentary that create new layers of copyrightable works, distinct from the underlaying game rights. This dynamic raises important considerations about copyright ownership and permissions, particularly in relation to when and how content creators can legally use game footage, artwork, or music in their productions . Legal frameworks for addressing these questions vary globally. Doctrines like fair use, fair dealing, or similar structures offer certain exceptions to copyright protection. These broader concepts or specific copyright exceptions may provide for the use of parody, criticism, commentary, and education. Specific legal frameworks for these doctrines vary in terms of the enumeration of exceptions—both exhaustive and non-exhaustive lists exist in various jurisdictions—and the procedures to be follo...