Large law firms are stepping up their push into the game industry, touting their strengths in intellectual property (IP) and regulatory response. With game plagiarism controversies piling up and litigation demand growing, and a full revision of the Game Industry Promotion Act also in motion, the game sector is emerging as a new revenue stream.
In the past year alone, major law firms have hired as many as 10 game-related experts. Several are also setting up separate centers or expanding dedicated teams.
◇ Reading policy shifts… hiring former officials and association figures
According to legal sources on the 26th, recent game-talent recruitment at law firms breaks into two main tracks: policy experts from government ministries and related agencies, and hands-on attorneys versed in copyright, patents, and overseas investment. Because the game industry is both a content industry and a regulated industry, firms say they need people who can read policy changes and handle disputes at the same time.
BAE, KIM & LEE LLC hired Senior Adviser Heo Sung-uk last May, who previously served as President of the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA). The firm's "Game & Biz Team" is led by attorney Kang Tae-uk, a former judge who serves as a Commissioner at the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC).
Sejong hired Senior Adviser Oh Young-woo, a former Vice Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). Oh served as director of copyright policy and other posts at the ministry. Sejong's game team is led by Managing Partner Kang Shin-uk, a Commissioner at the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC).
YulChon hired Senior Commissioner Choi Seung-woo in April last year, who previously served as head of policy at the Korea Association of Game Industry. Choi is currently vice president of the Korea Game Policy Society. Attorney Hwang Jeong-hoon, who has experience as a patent attorney at a patent office, serves as co-Head of Team.
HwaWoo in Feb. 2024 launched a "game center," the first among domestic law firms. Since then it has brought in attorney Ryu Seong-hyun, a director at the Korea International Tax Association, attorney Chae Yeon-jeong to handle foreign investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and foreign attorney Lim Seok-jin. Senior Commissioner Kim Jong-il, who serves as vice president of the Platform Law and Policy Association and a director at the Korea Game Law and Policy Association, heads the center.
Jipyung's game and esports team in March hired attorney Song Do-young, managing director at the Korea Society of Law and Information. Attorney Choi Jeong-gyu, vice president of the Society of Personal Information Protection Act and the Korea Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (KIPLA), serves as Head of Team.
Daeryook & AJU's entertainment team this month hired attorneys Min Hyun-a and Lee Seok-young, along with attorney Park Ji-hwan, a Commissioner on the Industrial Property Rights Legislative Advisory Committee. Attorney Choi Jong-seon, a former judge at the Intellectual Property High Court who also served as a judge on the intellectual property panel at the Seoul Central District Court, is Head of Team.
Some firms have maintained dedicated game teams for years. Kim & Chang's game, resort and entertainment (GRE) group is built around attorney Eun Hyun-ho, and includes attorneys Kim Won and Na Deok-jung.
At Gwangjang's game team, attorney Gwak Jae-woo serves as Head of Team, and attorneys Kim Tae-ju and Kim Jong-uk are on staff. Gwak majored in industrial engineering as an undergraduate and earned a master's degree specializing in intellectual property.
At Barun's game and entertainment team, attorney Kim Tae-hyung serves as Head of Team. Kim previously worked as a judge on the intellectual property panels at the Daejeon District Court and the Suwon District Court. Attorneys Park Sang-oh and Cho Eun-ju, both admitted in New York State, are also members.
◇ From IP disputes to legislative response… dedicated teams stay busy
Law firms are investing in the game industry because disputes are growing increasingly complex. Recently, courts have been holding game plagiarists liable not only under the Copyright Act but also by applying the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. Because games combine elements such as characters, background music, systems, and monetization structures, it is hard to assign liability based on simple copyright infringement alone.
A representative case is the lawsuit between Nexon and Ironmace. Nexon filed suit in 2021, saying its confidential project materials were leaked and used to develop "Dark and Darker." In Dec. last year, the appellate court ordered Ironmace to pay Nexon 5.764 billion won in damages. IP-related lawsuits are also continuing among major game companies such as NCSOFT and Webzen.
Demand on the legislative front is also growing. In Sept. last year, the National Assembly introduced a full amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act. It would separate regulations for online games and arcade games, scrap online game prize regulations, and add provisions banning the distribution of illegal private servers and cheat programs. The industry is also watching for potential further policy changes on randomized items, overseas expansion rules, and personal information protection.
A legal industry official said, "In the past, game cases were mostly simple copyright disputes, but now they have become comprehensive cases entangled with trade secrets, fair trade, foreign investment, personal information, and criminal issues," adding, "As game companies grow, the law firm market that serves them cannot help but grow as well."