Research Center for Video Game Law (FGR)

The Research Center for Video Game Law (German: Forschungsstelle Games-Recht, FGR) was founded at Bucerius Law School's IP Center in the spring trimester of 2025. It collects and institutionalizes the academic activities surrounding video game law at Bucerius. Members of the Research Center examine legal questions surrounding the topic of video games.

Video game law means the law of digital play. It is an umbrella term that incorporates video games themselves, as well as derivative products such as esports, user-generated content, streaming and digital gam(bl)ing.

The Research Center originates from the student-led Research Group for Gaming & eSports Law, which was founded in 2022 by Janka Aldag and Jasmin Dolling.

Fotografien eines Vortrags von Jasmin Dolling sowie eines Publikums im Seminarraum — Events organized by the Research Center on Video Game Law (left: Jasmin Dolling)

Video games as an economic factor and social phenomenon

The market for entertainment software is one of the fastest growing entertainment markets, now generating more revenue than that for films, music and books combined. The European Union is the third-largest market globally for video games. Gaming plays an important role for the global economy.

Video games between criticism and culture

Societally, on the other hand, video games have repeatedly been criticised - e.g., for glorifying violence, sexism and homophobia, as well as addiction issues. But games can also transport values, are used in educational work and healthcare, can be cultural assets. In the video game “Papers, Please”, for example, players experience racist treatment during border controls; the game “Harmonium: The Musical” invites gamers to enter the world of the hearing impaired. Project studies done by the German Foundation for Digital Games Culture have shown that the use of video games in class increases students' learning success. Moreover, digital games are used during treatment of dementia or depression and can assist in the physical rehabilitation of stroke victims.

We see that gaming doesn't only have economic value - it is a layered, current and dynamic field that requires nuanced and unbiased consideration. The Research Center seeks to contribute to this study from a legal perspective.

Gruppenfoto: Mitglieder der Bucerius Law School und der Forschungsstelle Games-Recht — Members of Bucerius Law School and the Research Center for Video Game Law

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You are a student, researcher or practitioner and want to reach out? We look forward to receiving your message at games-recht(at)law-school.de.

Activities of the Research Center for Video Game Law

Research projects

Video game law encompasses all areas of law that become relevant during the economic use cycle of a video game. These include intellectual property law, particularly copyright and trademarks, competition and antitrust law, software contracts, labor law, gambling law, data protection, criminal law, corporate law and tax law.

Legal permissibility of lootboxes

Lootboxes, or digital loot crates, are random digital objects that can be obtained in video games. They are under examination both from a gambling as well as from a consumer protection standpoint. Our research examines which regulatory regime should be applicable to adequately meet the actual dangers stemming from the use of lootboxes.

The research has led to the following publications:

„Lootboxen als illegals Glücksspiel? Fofftein mit Jasmin Dolling“, 3.6.2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJWOewrIT4M

Use of AI in video games

The increasing use of AI applications has reached the video game industry. AI is used to make NPC interactions more lifelike, generate a more varied gaming experience, or simply streamline work processes like graphic design, voice acting and localization. AI tools are also employed in moderating chats in some online multiplayer games. This leads to questions under copyright, labor law and data protection law.

The research has led to the following publications:

Jasmin Dolling und Tarmio Frei, AI Voice Chat Moderation Systems In Video Gaming under EU Data Protection Law, GRUR Junge Wissenschaft 2024 – Artificial Intelligence, 2024

Media broadcasting rights in esports

In esports, the sale of broadcasting rights for competitions plays only a marginal role in generating revenue. This is in opposition to traditional sports, where it is by far the biggest revenue stream. The reason for this lies in the predominant position of video game publishers, which often prohibit or significantly influence such exclusive uses, due to their IP ownership. But tournament organizers and esports players also gain exclusive intellectual property rights during competitions that should be taken into account in negotiations. Further, antitrust law seeks to prohibit unilateral market restrictions.

The research has led to the following publications:

Jasmin Dolling, Medienübertragungsrechte im eSport (Ph.D. thesis) (to be published in 2026)

Courses

Besides our research, we also offer courses in the areas of video game, esports and digital gambling law. The courses are open to all domestic and international students of Bucerius Law School.

Current courses offered by the Research Center at Bucerius Law School:

Course “Video Game and Esports Law”, International Program at Bucerius Law School (english-language), Dipl.-Jur. Jasmin Dolling, LL.B.
Colloquium “Current legal issues in gambling law”, Dr. Jörg Hofmann, MELCHERS law firm

Publications and lectures

Our research has led to several publications and lectures.

Jasmin Dolling, Medienübertragungsrechte im eSport – eine vergleichende Untersuchung (Dissertation) (publication 2026)
Jasmin Dolling and Tarmio Frei, AI Voice Chat Moderation Systems In Video Gaming under EU Data Protection Law, in Henke et al., GRUR Junge Wissenschaft 2024 – Artificial Intelligence, 2025
Jasmin Dolling, Esports Legal News, Esports Term Online Commentary – Commentary on Antitrust Law, Competition Law, Venture Capital, M&A, Due Diligence, 2024
Jasmin Dolling, Press Start to Play: IP protection for video games under the proposed European video game strategy, GRUR-Newsletter, 1 (2024), 25
Jasmin Dolling, Kollektive Rechtswahrnehmung im Urheberrecht – Braucht es eine „eSport-Verwertungsgesellschaft?, in: Seckelmann/Woerlein (Eds.), Esport in Recht und Gesellschaft (Nomos, 2023) 
Jasmin Dolling, Die Games-Verwertungsgesellschaft – Chance oder Pflicht für den eSport?, SpoPrax 6 (2023), 388
Jasmin Dolling, Die rechtliche Zukunft der Online-Sportwette: Rezension, SpoPrax 4 (2023), 275 
Jasmin Dolling, Hakenkreuzverbot in Videospielen, Recht und Netz Blog (1. August 2018) 
Jasmin Dolling, eSport als Sport? Eine aktuelle Sachstandsanalyse, Recht und Netz Blog (29. März 2018)

Jasmin Dolling, „Medienübertragungsrechte im eSport“, IP Colloquium at Bucerius Law School, 13 November 2024
Jasmin Dolling and Tarmio Frei, „AI Voice Chat Moderation Systems In Video Gaming under EU Data Protection Law“, GRUR Junge Wissenschaft Conference 2024, 20 June 2024
Jasmin Dolling, „Lunch Lecture – Emulatoren und Romhacks“, KNPZ law firm, 8 May 2024
Jasmin Dolling, Course „Video Game and Esports Law“, Bucerius Law School International Exchange Program, November-December 2023 
Jasmin Dolling, „Lootboxen als illegals Glücksspiel? Fofftein mit Jasmin Dolling“, 3 June 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJWOewrIT4M
Jasmin Dolling, „Braucht es eine „eSport-Verwertungsgesellschaft“?“, Leibniz Universy Hannover, Kompetenzzentrum eSport-Recht, Annual Conference 2023, 6 June 2023
Jasmin Dolling, „Lunch Lecture – Games in der IP-Rechtsberatung“, KNPZ law firm, 12 April 2023
Jasmin Dolling, „Tutorial Mode – Grundlagen des Games-Rechts“, 1 December 2022

Events

Fotos vergangener Vortragender — Selected speakers (left to right: Prof. Dr. Christian Rauda, Dr. Jörg Hofmann, Dr. Marie-Christin Bareuther, Dr. Andreas Woerlein)

We organize regular events such as our Evening Talks with video game experts, as well as lunch lectures.

26 November 2024	Besuch bei ARTANA: Aktuelles aus dem Recht der Computerspiele mit Prof. Dr. Christian Rauda, ARTANA RAe
15 October 2024	Putting the € in Esports: Revenue Streams and Stakeholders mit Carl Kuhn, Jung von Matt SPORTS
27 June 2024	Get Rich or Die Fragging: Esports and Tax Law mit RA Dr. Ulrich Wilke, WIESE LUKAS
30 January 2024	The Invisible Wizard: Generative KI in der Spieleentwicklung mit Prof. Dr. Christian Rauda, ARTANA RAe
15 November 2023	Lunch Lecture: eSport und Unternehmensberatung mit Kim Lachmann, Deloitte
2 November 2023	Streitbeilegung im eSport mit Dr. Marie-Christin Bareuther, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler
26 October 2023	Berufsperspektive – Inhouse Counsel beim größten deutschen Computerspieleentwickler (Talk und Führung bei InnoGames) mit Patrick Mitsching, InnoGames GmbH
17 October 2023	Tutorial Mode: Grundlagen des Glücksspielrechts mit Dr. Jörg Hofmann, MELCHERS RAe
29 June 2023	Arbeitsverträge im eSport mit Prof. Dr. Martin Maties, FeSR Universität Augsburg
26 May 2023	Tutorial Mode: Grundlagen des eSport-Rechts mit Moritz Mehner, Dr. Nepomuk Nothelfer, SKW Schwarz RAe
16 February 2023	Glücksspielrechtliche Einordnung von eSport und Lootboxen mit Dr. Andreas Woerlein, KeSH Hannover
26 January 2023	Gaming auf der Blockchain mit Dr. Oliver Scherenberg, Scherenberg Law
1 December 2022	Tutorial Mode: Grundlagen des Games-Rechts mit Dipl.-Jur. Jasmin Dolling, LL.B.

Moot Court: Games Industry Law Summit Legal Challenge

We assist teams from Bucerius Law School in participating in Games Industry Law Summit Legal Challenge, the only moot court focused on video game law.

We have sent a team to participate in Games Industry Law Summit Legal Challenge twice so far. The moot court deals with current legal issues in the international video game industry, such as copyright and trademark law, M&A or insolvency proceedings. All information on prior teams can be accessed on the Kirkland & Elllis Mooting Center sub-page.