WIPO and ESIC Forge Historic Partnership to Revolutionize Dispute Resolution in Esports and Video Games

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, a leader in intellectual property (IP) dispute resolution, will join forces with ESIC, the vanguard for integrity in esports, to enhance and implement cutting-edge ADR mechanisms. These mechanisms are designed to resolve disputes in the video games and esports arenas with an unprecedented level of expertise and fairness.

Key focuses of this collaboration include joint awareness-raising activities, the identification and training of specialized neutral dispute resolution experts for video games and esports disputes, and more. The partnership aims to leverage the combined knowledge and expertise of both organizations to optimize the efficiency and fairness of dispute resolutions in the esports and video games industries.

Marco M. Alemán, Assistant Director General at WIPO, emphasized the growing importance of ADR mechanisms in emerging sectors like video games and esports, stating,

“Our collaboration with ESIC signifies a commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure for fair and efficient dispute resolution within the video game industry and esports community.”

Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting it as a

“monumental step forward” for the global esports and video games industries. He added, “We are looking forward to collaborating to build new standards for integrity, dispute resolution, and IP protection in esports and video games.”

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is a global entity dedicated to upholding the integrity of esports through addressing cheating, match-fixing, and doping, thereby ensuring fair play across all esports competitions. It collaborates with various stakeholders to establish unified competition integrity standards.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a self-funding agency of the United Nations, serves as the global forum for IP services, policy, information, and cooperation. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center provides ADR options for private parties to efficiently settle their domestic or cross-border commercial disputes, specializing in IP and technology disputes.

This collaboration between WIPO and ESIC is a testament to their commitment to innovation and the long-term health of the global video games and esports ecosystem, paving the way for a future where disputes are resolved with fairness and efficiency.