MVV93K Video Game Law

Faculty of Law
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
JUDr. Pavel Loutocký, Ph.D., BA (Hons) (seminar tutor)
doc. JUDr. Matěj Myška, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
JUDr. Ing. František Kasl, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Matěj Myška, Ph.D.
Institute of Law and Technology – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Tereza Buchalová
Supplier department: Institute of Law and Technology – Faculty of Law
Prerequisites
MP511Zk Intellectual Property
The course is recommended primarily for students of master's degree in law. Knowledge of the subjects taught in the first five semesters is expected. Advanced knowledge of English is expected as study materials will be provided predominantly in English).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 3/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 3/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Law (programme PrF, PR_)
  • Law (programme PrF, M-PPV)
Course objectives
The aims of the course are:
to introduce videogames as the object of legal regulation;
to explain the basics of protection of videogames by intellectual property law;
to present and explain general as well as specific regulatory issues related to the development, protection, distribution and use of videogames.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course the student shall be able to understand basic concepts of private law regulation of creation, protection, distribution and use of videogames and analyze and solve particular problems related to the discussed issues.
Syllabus
  • 1. Video games, video game industry, e-sport as an object of legal regulation, development of computer games / Intellectual property law - general issues - copyright, patent law, trademarks
  • 2. Intellectual property law - special issues - mods, streaming, let's play videos, streaming, second-hand videogames
  • 3. Selected videogame regulatory issues - software quality, geoblocking, streaming game platforms, player account sales
  • 4. Selected regulatory issues - protection of children and minors, gambling elements in video games (e.g. lootboxes), second-hand video games
  • 5. Development and distribution of video games - contractual issues
  • 6. E-sports - concept and regulatory issues
Literature
    recommended literature
  • RUSSELL, James. “Pwnership”: Is copyright appropriately equipped to handle videogames? [online]. Uppsala, 2018, p. 9–41. Master Thesis. Uppsala University, Department of Law.
  • WOZNICA, Ondřej. Streaming Video Games: Copyright Aspects [online]. Brno, 2020, Master Thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Law.
  • GROSHEIDE, F. Willem; ROERDINK, Herwin; THOMAS, Karianne. Intellectual Property Protection for Video Games - a View From the European Union. Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology. Vol. 9, No. 1, 2014.
    not specified
  • Zdroje pro každý seminář budou dostupné v interaktivní osnově IS MUNI. / Students will receive readings for each seminar via the IS MUNI.
Teaching methods
Seminars; e-learning; reading; case law analysis
Assessment methods
To successfully complete the course, it is necessary to cumulatively meet the following conditions:
- Active participation in seminars (one absence allowed), reading of assigned sources and their subsequent critical discussion in seminars is expected
- Elaboration of one essay related to the topic of one of the seminars (a draft of the essay must be submitted during the semester to which feedback is provided) - grading OK/NOK

ISP: To successfully complete the course, it is necessary to meet the following conditions:
- Elaboration of three essay related to the seminar (a draft of the essays must be submitted during the semester to which feedback is provided) - grading OK/NOK - Consultation with the course guarantor
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every other week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, Autumn 2012, Spring 2013, Autumn 2013, Spring 2014, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2025/MVV93K