World Intellectual Property Day

  Behind the scenes, developers not only invest in maintaining video games and platforms but also in continuously creating new titles that engage players and fans around the world. Video game developers and publishers are responsible for creating video games and therefore own the rights over the different game elements, including game code, visual elements, characters, storylines, music, game title, and logos. As rights-holders, they authorize the uses of video games in tournaments , as well as the use of the video game characters and trademarks in other products, advertisements, and events.  To learn more explore the  WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

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...