eSports — the playing and watching of competitive video games — is growing fast worldwide: the global eSports market is about $2 billion and some tournaments award tens of millions of dollars in prizes. As eSports continues to grow, so too have the legal issues that loom over it. Grabowski's talk will provide an overview of some of the biggest legal questions impacting eSports in Asia and elsewhere, and what the future may hold.
"Exploitative contracts, rampant discrimination and cheating scandals are just a few of the many challenges that players, teams, leagues and sponsors must navigate," said Grabowski, who teaches cyber law at Adelphi University and has a forthcoming book chapter on the law of eSports. "While some policies exist, many issues remain unclear or unregulated. The situation is further complicated by the global nature of eSports competitions and lack of a central governing body, which can create uncertainty over whose regulations apply. Because many players are young, they may lack the sophistication to deal with the myriad legal issues."
Grabowski has published about online gaming law in the past, including a book chapter on fantasy sports law. He frequently gives speeches on cyber law matters around the world. He's spoken at universities in Paris, Prague, Hong Kong and elsewhere.