Fortnite is No Different Than Cocaine?

Fortnite is No Different Than Cocaine?

It’s 2019 and as we close in on 2020, we are still living in a world filled with hyperbole. Here’s the latest absurdity for your eyes. A Canadian law firm is going after the creators of Fortnite: Epic Games, Inc. on behalf of a ten year old. I’ll link to the firm’s pleading below (as well as the translated version I read). The translated version makes it seem like the Applicant is alleging that Fornite promotes gambling to children. Of course, there aren’t any loot box mechanics in Fortnite so it’s unclear what sort of gambling is going on. This is just one example of quite a few translation issues that may come up when reading through it. It actually translates to saying that Fortnite is developed to be so addictive that it creates dopamine releases in the brain in a pattern similar to cocaine.

Spider-Man: Far From Homeless

Spider-Man: Far From Homeless

It’s over 150 pages, but it’s a fascinating read for anyone who is into the law, film, or just Spider-Man. This contract, like every contract should, gets into the nitty-gritty of what they are allowed to do with the character(s), theme park representation, how logos must be displayed, whether end credits are to be used in calculating whether a 78 minute run-time was achieved, LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. integration, video game rights, depicting characters on baseballs and basketballs, McDonald’s Corporation promotions, Spider-Man popcorn oil, etc.

FaceApp: Russians Own Your Face?

FaceApp: Russians Own Your Face?

You gave FaceApp permission to use your photo. FOREVER. You can’t revoke that permission. You can’t get paid if and when they use your photo. They can license that photo to anyone, any company, or any government they want without your permission (and they can get paid for that). They can edit your photo without your permission and then use that as they see fit as well.

Don't Spoil Fortnite Season 6!

Don't Spoil Fortnite Season 6!

Epic went ahead and sued a man by the name of Thomas Hannah for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and civil conspiracy. They are seeking injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. Thomas Hannah was a contractor that provided QA (Quality Assurance) services for Epic by playing unreleased builds of the game and reporting back about various bugs and data. Thomas Hannah also signed an NDA (Nondisclosure Agreement) agreeing not to reveal any confidential information he would receive as a part of his QA services. However, Hannah allegedly breached the NDA by leaking spoilers to another man (Adam DiMarco) who then posted the spoilers and leaked the future of Fortnite on Reddit for upcoming seasons.

Could Ghost Guns Kill 3D Printing?

Could Ghost Guns Kill 3D Printing?

Perhaps the government will continue blocking this settlement, but to what end? They can try, but it's unreasonable to think they'll be able to block every site, message board, or user uploading the blueprints. I can't imagine them cracking down in any way that would really be effective. Internet sharing moves at such a rapid pace that it would be a near impossible task. A bigger concern is if they moved to ban or restrict 3D printers. They provide so much good for the world and it would be a shame for them to meet their death because someone used the technology in a destructive way. From replacement body parts to building shelters after a natural disaster, 3D printing is a marvelous thing.

Is MGM Resorts International™ Suing Mass Shooting Victims?

Is MGM Resorts International™ Suing Mass Shooting Victims?

MGM points to the SAFETY Act*, which stands for Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002. The SAFETY Act was put in place shortly after 9/11 and allows for companies who provide services to help prevent and respond to situations like the mass shooting to apply for certification by the Department of Homeland Security. Certification allows the company to be immune from liability claims in federal court. MGM hired Contemporary Services Corporation, a company whose services have been certified by the Department of Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act. MGM believes that because they paid for these certified services, they should be immune to civil liability claims as well.

Peel Those Warranty Stickers Off!

Peel Those Warranty Stickers Off!

The 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act just saved consumers a ton of headaches in 2018 and the future. Next time one of your devices breaks and you have to send it in, don't worry about those stickers they always tell you not to peel off. A few months ago, the FTC sent out warnings to some companies that were violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act by requiring buyers of their products (who wanted to use the warranty) to do things like keep their warranty stickers on or not use their devices with third party accessories. They were given a deadline to change their policies or face "law enforcement action." The deadline is up.

State of Maryland v. Adnan Syed: Maryland's Court of Appeals Grants Review

State of Maryland v. Adnan Syed: Maryland's Court of Appeals Grants Review

"This is a Global Tel-Link prepaid call from Adnan Syed, an inmate at a Maryland correctional facility."

That sentence has been heard about 500 million times by people all around the world. For those who don't recognize it, I strongly urge you to click here and come back after you're done listening to the most riveting piece of journalism I've ever heard.

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Glossary of Legal Terms for Engineers

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Glossary of Legal Terms for Engineers

Welcome back to Wisdom Wednesdays at SAV Law Firm Blog! Continuing the trend of easy to swallow information, guest blogging, and appealing to engineers with an interest in law, we have a glossary of terms that are important must-knows for any engineer. Regardless of whether you are going through an encounter with the law, these terms will help you understand the documents you and your team are signing when taking on a project. We wanted to post these early on during the life of our blog so that these terms could be referenced in future works without being worried that a reader may not know the meaning. We hope that you enjoy learning this "legal jargon" and also hope your return whenever you need to reference important terms.

Delay Damages Dispute

Delay Damages Dispute

Today marks the beginning of our weekly blog segment, Wisdom Wednesdays! Wisdom Wednesdays are going to be used to educate people about the law in an easy-to-approach manner. Because we are primarily a construction law and contract law firm, it would only be appropriate to start with a construction law topic: Delay Damages. Today's work is written by Dr. Kirty Dave.