The next phase of the development of this sector will not just be about revenue growth, but is also likely to feature a significant shift in the way in which revenue is generated.  In particular, the growth in broadband and the broadband access of the next generation of consoles will greatly increase the significance of online games and will open the way for the widespread digital distribution of games and game materials.  In addition, mobile will become an increasingly important platform and there are also signs that the sector is having some success in broadening its demographic and geographic appeal.  All of these factors will make the sector more interesting to advertising agencies and their clients.

Our interactive entertainment group is widely recognised as the leading legal team in the county for work in relation to this sector.  With a reputation for being industry "insiders", the team provides legal services to individuals and organisations across the entire spectrum of the sector including developers, publishers, distributors, content owners, hardware manufacturers, middleware companies and providers of finance.  These include some of the most innovative companies in this sector.

We have extensive experience of the whole range of contractual arrangements involved in this sector, the growing area of alternative games finance including the use of completion bonds and all of the law and regulation affecting this sector.  We also regularly provide advice on the protection of intellectual property and other rights in this sector and the resolution of disputes arising in this sector.

We have advised several companies in this sector on corporate structures and funding rounds including strategic acquisitions (M&A) and flotations on the UK Stock Exchange.

The group has close links with ELSPA, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association and TIGA (The Interactive Games Developers Association), the UK trade associations for the computer games industry.  Chambers & Partners 2005 ranks us first for offering "savvy games knowledge with great commercial advice".  It quotes one of our clients saying that team leader, Paul Gardner, is "absolutely the best computer games lawyer there is... he has been in the industry since the year dot, and understands every rule and loop-hole."

Paul Gardner
t +44 (0)20 7105 7066
paul.gardner@osborneclarke.com