WIPO China: Resolving Video Games and eSports Disputes - How Can WIPO's Alternative Dispute Resolution Options Help?
本文原载于2023年第2期《WIPO杂志》。作者为莱安德罗·托斯卡诺、奥斯卡·苏亚雷斯和亚历克西娅·格科尔察，产权组织仲裁与调解中心。
The article was originally published in the issue 2/2023 of WIPO Magazine. The author is Leandro Toscano, Oscar Suarez and Alexia Gkoritsa, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
电子游戏和电子竞技领域出现的争议的专业性和复杂性意味着诉诸法庭可能不是解决这些争议的最佳方式。仲裁或调解可以提供更为定制化和高效的选择。（图：Sittipol Sukuna / iStock / Getty Images Plus）
The specialist nature and complexity of disputes arising in the areas of video gaming and eSports mean that going to court may not be the optimal way to resolve them. Arbitration or mediation, may offer more tailored and efficient options. (Photo: Sittipol Sukuna / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
近年来，电子游戏行业发展迅速，超过了电影和音乐行业的总和。2022年，全球电子游戏市场的估计价值超过2000亿美元。随着越来越多的人开始通过电子游戏进行娱乐，以及该行业向虚拟现实和电子竞技等新领域的突破，全球电子游戏市场的扩张将继续下去。
The video gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years, surpassing the film and music sectors combined. In 2022, the estimated value of the global video game market was over USD 200 billion. Expansion of the global video game market is set to continue as growing numbers of people turn to video games for entertainment and as the industry breaks into new areas such as virtual reality and eSports.
在2019冠状病毒病大流行期间，电子游戏行业的表现好于许多经济部门。由于许多人居家工作，在线游戏是缓解居家令带来的物理隔离的一种方式。在此期间，我们还看到出现了越来越多的电子竞技比赛。
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the video gaming industry performed better than many economic sectors. With many people working from home, online gaming was a way to compensate for the physical isolation that came with lockdown. During this period, we also saw the emergence of a growing number of eSports competitions.
电子游戏在消费者中愈发高涨的受欢迎程度以及这些游戏产生的收入正在推动该行业的拓展，使其成为全球经济中一个日趋重要的经济部门。然而，这种快速拓展伴随着越来越多的争议风险。考虑到电子游戏的复杂性和交叉性以及它们的创作方式，这种争议很可能围绕着知识产权和商业合同展开。那么，当争议发生时，利益攸关方可以做什么？调解或仲裁服务（如产权组织提供的此类服务）能否使他们免于卷入与复杂的知识产权和技术问题有关的冗长而昂贵的法庭诉讼？
The growing popularity of video games among consumers and the revenues these games generate are fueling the industry’s expansion, transforming it into an increasingly important economic sector within the global economy. This rapid expansion, however, comes with an increasing risk of disputes. Given the complex and cross-cutting nature of video games and the way they are created, such disputes are likely to revolve around intellectual property (IP) rights and commercial contracts. What then can stakeholders do when disputes arise? Can mediation or arbitration services, such as those offered by WIPO, enable them to avoid lengthy and costly court litigation related to complex IP and tech matters?
电子游戏行业在增长；争议的数量也在增长
The video gaming industry is growing; so is the number of disputes
考虑到电子游戏和电子竞技的全球性（它们可以在国际范围内进行操作和转播，并可能涉及来自不同国家的利益攸关方），争议不可避免地具有跨境方面的考量。因此，所有利益攸关方（包括电子游戏制作方、发行方、电子竞技主办方等）从一开始就必须做出有效安排，以解决任何可能出现的争议，特别是当知识产权（该行业的关键资产）可能受到侵害时。
Given the global nature of video games and eSports, which may be played and broadcast internationally and can involve stakeholders from various countries, disputes inevitably feature cross-border considerations. For this reason, it is important for all stakeholders, including video games producers, publishers, eSports organizers and more, to put into place, from the outset, effective arrangements to resolve any disputes that may arise, especially when IP rights (key assets in this industry) are at risk.
调解、仲裁和专家裁决等机制作为知识产权和商业争议的司法法院诉讼替代方案，越来越受到重视。这些机制的有效性已在从品牌（外观设计和商标）和技术（专利）到创意产业（版权及相关权）等领域得到印证。这些机制也有利于电子游戏和电子竞技领域的利益攸关方解决他们面临的争议。
Mechanisms like mediation, arbitration and expert determination, have been gaining ground as alternatives to judicial court proceedings for IP and commercial disputes. The effectiveness of these mechanisms has been demonstrated in areas ranging from brands (designs and trademarks) and technology (patents) to the creative industries (copyright and related rights). These mechanisms also stand to benefit stakeholders in the video games and eSports sectors in resolving the disputes they face.
仲裁、调解、快速仲裁和专家裁决是目前广泛使用的替代性争议解决机制，为电子游戏和电子竞技相关争议的当事各方提供了多种优势。（图：Wasan Tita / iStock / Getty Images Plus）
Arbitration, mediation, expedited arbitration, and expert determination are now widely used alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and offer multiple advantages for parties involved in video game and eSports-related disputes. (Photo: Wasan Tita / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
与知识产权和合同有关的潜在争议
Potential disputes relating to IP and contracts
多年来，产权组织仲裁与调解中心（WIPO中心）作为替代性争议解决服务的主要提供者，处理了与电子游戏和电子竞技有关的案件。此类争议通常涉及以下知识产权相关问题：
Over the years, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the WIPO Center), a leading provider of alternative dispute resolution services, has handled cases relating to video games and eSports. Such disputes typically cover the following IP-related issues:
品牌（例如关于游戏标志、商品化所依托的商标的使用）；
brands (e.g. in relation to the use of trademarks underpinning game logos, merchandizing);
版权（例如关于电子游戏的故事情节、游戏设置、音乐、用户生成的内容、电子游戏流媒体，包括电子竞技比赛的转播）；
copyright (e.g. in relation to the storyline, gameplay, music of a video game, user-generated content, video game streaming, including the broadcasting of eSports competitions);
外观设计权（例如关于产品包装）；
design rights (e.g. in relation to product packaging);
专利（例如关于游戏硬件，如游戏机和附件、游戏内机械装置、游戏手柄和虚拟现实头盔）；
patents (e.g. in relation to game hardware, such as consoles and accessories, in-game mechanics, gamepads, and virtual reality headsets);
商业秘密（与技术秘密有关）；
trade secrets (in relation to know-how);
与知识产权许可、研究与开发（研发）、技术转让、软件等有关的协议；以及
agreements related to IP licensing, research and development (R&D), technology transfer, software and more; and
知识产权侵权。
infringement of IP rights.
利益攸关方还可能涉及更多标准的商业争议，包括与媒体和流媒体权利的授予、误导性或虚假广告、电子竞技比赛门票销售、电子竞技比赛和相关活动的商品化、比赛主办方费用的支付、版税、不公平竞争和反垄断等有关的合同争议。
Stakeholders may also be involved in more standard commercial disputes, including contractual disputes relating to the grant of media and streaming rights, misleading or false advertising, the sale of tickets for eSports tournaments, merchandizing of eSports tournaments and related events, the payment of tournament organizer’s fees, royalties, unfair competition and antitrust, and others.
提高整个电子游戏和电子竞技行业的知识产权意识
Building IP awareness across the video gaming and eSports sector
产权组织一直以来与电子游戏行业的利益攸关方密切合作，包括（大小）开发工作室、发行商和经销商，以促进该行业的创新和知识产权保护。这种合作在促进创造力和防止侵权的同时，也在支持该行业的增长和发展。
WIPO has been working very closely with stakeholders in the video gaming industry, including development studios (big and small), publishers and distributors, to foster innovation and protect IP rights in the sector. This collaboration is supporting the growth and development of the industry while promoting creativity and preventing infringements.
这种合作的一个例子是，产权组织最近关于电子游戏行业中版权侵权的研究报告确定了未来趋势、新兴做法和电子游戏开发者的维权战略等事项。同样，由产权组织牵头的跨地区项目“提高知识产权水平：电子游戏开发者的探索”旨在帮助小型游戏开发者了解如何有效利用知识产权制度创造新的商业机会并支持业务增长。
An example this collaboration is WIPO’s recent Study on Copyright Infringement in the Video Game Industry identifies, which future trends, emerging practices and enforcement strategies for videogame developers, among other things. Similarly, the cross-regional WIPO-led project, “Level UP your IP: A Videogame Developer’s Quest,” is designed to help small game developers understand how they can use the IP system effectively to create new business opportunities and support business growth.
WIPO中心为电子游戏行业提供的ADR服务是产权组织帮助企业和个人应对快速发展的电子游戏行业的独特挑战的又一例证。
The WIPO Center’s ADR services for the video game industry is a further example of how WIPO is helping companies and individuals navigate the unique challenges of the rapidly growing video game industry.
WIPO中心作为解决电子游戏和电子竞技争议的专门论坛
The WIPO Center as a specialized forum for resolving video game and eSports disputes
WIPO中心的国际中立性吸引了来自各个地区的当事人。当事人可以利用WIPO中心的国际专家名单，其中包括来自世界各地的中立人，他们兼具电子游戏和电子竞技方面的法律、商业和/或技术专门知识。这份名单是开放式的，也就是说，当事人也可以根据自己的意愿，选择名单中没有的中立人。
The international neutrality of the WIPO Center attracts parties from all regions. Parties have access to the WIPO Center’s international list of experts, which includes neutrals from around the world who combine legal, business, and/or technical expertise in video games and eSports. This list is open-ended, meaning that parties can also select a neutral that does not feature in the list, if they so wish.
在当今蓬勃发展的电子游戏领域，向消费者提供游戏所涉及的交易和合同关系的复杂性成为了争议发生的温床。建立有效的机制来解决这些争议意味着各方可以迅速解决他们的分歧并回归到他们的核心业务。（图：zeljkosantrac / E+）
In today’s thriving video gaming landscape, the complexity of transactions and contractual relationships involved in delivering games to consumers creates fertile ground for disputes. Having effective mechanisms in place to resolve these disputes means parties can resolve their differences speedily and get back to their core business. (Photo: zeljkosantrac / E+)
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