COMPUTER GAMING EXPERT WITNESS: PC GAMES, VIDEO GAME REVIEWER

A computer gaming expert witness testimony pro, testifying video games leader and PC game reviewer provides input in legal cases involving interactive entertainment, gaming technologies, intellectual property, and related issues. As you might imagine, the best computer gaming expert witness get asked to clarify complex topics in games and technology to help judges and juries understand the intricacies of the case.

1. Intellectual Property (IP) and Copyright Infringement

• Trend: Intellectual property disputes are common in the games industry, particularly when it comes to game design, characters, storylines, music, and software code. Issues arise over the ownership of assets and the potential for copyright infringement.
• Expert Testimony: And so you’d see a top computer gaming expert witness commonly asked to assess whether a game, its elements, or its mechanics infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Consultants would provide detailed analysis of the game’s design, characters, code, and visual elements to determine if there’s evidence of copying or unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

2. Gaming Fraud and Scams

• Trend: With the rise of in-game purchases, microtransactions, and virtual economies, fraud across the industry has become a significant concern. That can include scams such as fake loot boxes, fraudulent in-game items, or deceptive practices in online gaming marketplaces.
• Expert Testimony: A computer gaming expert witness gets tapped to testify about fraud in the environment, including issues with virtual goods, loot boxes, or deceptive in-game transaction practices. An SME could analyze the game’s design, marketing, and economic systems to determine whether fraudulent practices were employed or whether users were misled.

3. Game Development Processes and Standards

• Trend: Legal disputes sometimes arise around the quality of a game, its delivery timeline, or the fulfillment of promises made by developers and publishers. This includes cases involving broken games, undelivered features, or misleading marketing.
• Expert Testimony: A computer gaming expert witness testifying advisor weighs in about the technical aspects of game development, from coding to design, and provide insight into whether the game met industry standards for quality, performance, or functionality. KOLs explain whether the game was rushed to market without adequate testing or whether it met the development standards promised to consumers.

4. Gambling Mechanisms and Loot Boxes

• Trend: The inclusion of loot boxes and other gambling-like features in video games has raised legal and regulatory concerns, particularly around whether these features constitute gambling or exploit young players.
• Expert Testimony: A computer gaming expert witness would provide insights into the design and mechanics of loot boxes, random rewards, and gambling-like elements in games. Consultants can explain how these systems work, their psychological effects on players, and whether the game’s design crosses into illegal or ethically questionable territory by encouraging gambling behaviors.