In a recent feature by Parola Analytics, Knobbe Martens partner Dan Gibson shared insights on how intellectual property and patent strategy are evolving in the video game industry amid advances in AI, cloud gaming, and games-as-a-service models.
Gibson highlighted how changes in gaming development are reshaping patent strategies in the industry: “[T]he patent focus has increasingly moved toward systems that support the games-as-a-service model, such as networking and multiplayer infrastructure, backend services, live-ops tooling, monetization systems like microtransactions, and other technical features that support operating and evolving a game over time.” He also noted that ownership of AI-assisted content remains a significant area of ambiguity for the industry.
Gibson emphasized that video game companies differ from traditional software companies, as they merge art and storytelling with technical functionality. In terms of long-term collaboration between gaming companies and IP counsel, he underscored the importance of identifying technologies that truly enhance gameplay and storytelling, and which innovations create real business value. The feature also highlighted Knobbe Martens’ role in shaping patent strategy for leading gaming companies, including Electronic Arts.
“One of the things I think we do very well at Knobbe Martens is to help spot those protectable innovations, get involved early, and translate them into a robust protection strategy,” he said, “so studios can keep making great games as the technology evolves.”
Read the full feature on Parola Analytics for more on gaming IP trends, patent strategy in the video game industry, and Knobbe Martens’ role in helping market-leading gaming companies protect their innovations.
Subscribe for News and Updates
