IGET Webinar: The Revolution of Dispute Resolution in Gaming and Esports

As the video games and esports industries continue their exponential growth, reaching a combined market value exceeding USD 300 billion globally, the complexity and frequency of legal disputes are increasing proportionally. Recognizing this challenge, the International Games and Esports Tribunal (IGET) has emerged as a specialized alternative dispute resolution (ADR) platform designed specifically for these rapidly evolving sectors.

On 7 May 2025, IGET will host a critical webinar in collaboration with the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO AMC), offering stakeholders across the gaming ecosystem an opportunity to learn how this specialized dispute resolution framework addresses the unique challenges facing the industry.

Why Traditional Litigation Falls Short in the Gaming Ecosystem

The conventional court system often proves inadequate for the gaming and esports industries due to several factors that make IGET’s alternative approach increasingly necessary:

• Cross-Border Complexity: Gaming and esports operate globally, creating jurisdictional challenges that traditional courts struggle to address effectively. With participants, tournament organizers, publishers, and audience members spread across numerous countries, determining proper jurisdiction alone can become a lengthy battle.
• Industry-Specific Knowledge: Gaming disputes frequently involve technical elements requiring specialized expertise largely absent in conventional courts. From game mechanics and tournament rules to platform-specific monetization structures and virtual property rights, judges in traditional courts rarely possess the necessary background to make informed decisions.
• Speed Requirements: The fast-paced nature of gaming and esports demands rapid resolution mechanisms that traditional litigation cannot match. With tournament schedules, game updates, and competitive seasons occurring in compressed timeframes, disputes that take months or years to resolve through courts become functionally moot.
• Relationship Preservation: Maintaining commercial relationships is vital in this interconnected industry, something adversarial court proceedings often jeopardize. The gaming ecosystem relies on cooperation between developers, publishers, platforms, players, and commercial partners—relationships that can be irreparably damaged through protracted legal battles.
• Cost Effectiveness: Traditional litigation expenses can be prohibitive, especially for smaller industry participants like independent developers, emerging esports organizations, and individual content creators who represent significant portions of the ecosystem.

Who Benefits from IGET’s Approach? A Stakeholder Analysis

The upcoming webinar targets several key stakeholder groups who stand to gain significant advantages from IGET’s specialized dispute resolution framework:

For Legal Counsel

In-house and external counsel will learn how IGET provides subject-matter expertise while reducing risk exposure through efficient resolution processes. The platform offers objective third-party intervention that supports parties’ interests while avoiding lengthy and costly litigation procedures.

Specific benefits include:

• Access to arbitrators and mediators with deep gaming and esports industry knowledge
• Streamlined procedural rules designed specifically for digital entertainment disputes
• Confidentiality protections that help preserve commercial relationships and brand reputation
• Predictable fee structures that improve budget forecasting for legal departments
• International enforceability through established ADR frameworks

For Game Publishers & Developers

Creators will gain valuable insights into mechanisms for resolving disputes related to licensing agreements, monetization structures, intellectual property infringements, and player terms disputes—all without resorting to court proceedings that could damage brand reputation or business operations.

IGET addresses specific publisher and developer concerns including:

• IP disputes over game mechanics, artwork, and code elements
• Conflicts with platform holders over revenue sharing and distribution terms
• User-generated content ownership and monetization disagreements
• Licensing conflicts with third-party IP integration
• Player complaints regarding terms of service implementation
• Cross-border enforcement of virtual property rights

For Tournament Organizers & Platforms

Operators will discover how IGET helps manage conflicts involving player eligibility, prize distribution, sponsorship arrangements, contractual breaches, and more through specialized arbitration and mediation designed with the unique esports context in mind.

Key resolution areas include:

• Competitive integrity violations and cheating allegations
• Tournament rule interpretation disputes
• Prize pool distribution conflicts
• Sponsor exclusivity breaches
• Player code of conduct violations
• Broadcasting rights and content usage disagreements
• Venue and equipment provision disputes

For Commercial Partners & Sponsors

Brands investing in the space will learn how alternative dispute resolution can effectively address conflicts around partnership terms while preserving valuable commercial relationships and protecting public image—critical considerations in the highly visible esports ecosystem.

Specific advantages include:

• Brand protection mechanisms that keep disputes out of public courts
• Rapid resolution processes that align with marketing campaign timelines
• Industry-knowledgeable neutrals who understand sponsorship value metrics
• Creative remedies beyond monetary damages that preserve relationship value
• Confidentiality provisions that protect strategic marketing information

For Dispute Resolution Professionals

Arbitrators and mediators will explore opportunities to join IGET’s specialized panel, contributing their expertise to a globally recognized, purpose-built ADR framework serving a rapidly growing industry.

The webinar will cover:

• Qualification requirements for IGET panel membership
• Case assignment procedures and fee structures
• Specialized training opportunities in gaming and esports contexts
• Procedural rules and best practices for the sector
• Technological tools supporting remote hearings and evidence review

For Regulatory Stakeholders

Industry regulators and policymakers will see how IGET establishes new standards for industry-specific governance and cross-border cooperation in digital economies, potentially informing future regulatory approaches.

Benefits include:

• Models for effective self-regulation in emerging digital industries
• Cross-border enforcement mechanisms that respect national sovereignty
• Standardized approaches to recurring dispute types
• Data collection on industry dispute patterns and resolution outcomes
• Reduced burden on public court systems

Webinar Details: A Comprehensive Overview

The 7 May event features an impressive lineup of experts who will address different aspects of specialized dispute resolution for gaming and esports:

Date: 7 May 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (CEST)
Format: Online webinar with interactive Q&A session

Session Structure:

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM (CEST) – Opening Remarks
Speakers:

• Leandro Toscano, Head, Business Development and Digital Content Disputes Section, WIPO AMC
• Stephen Hanna, CEO, ESIC

This opening segment will establish the context for specialized dispute resolution in gaming and esports, drawing on both organizations’ extensive experience in digital content disputes and competitive integrity issues.

11:15 AM – 11:35 AM (CEST) – The Need for Specialized Dispute Resolution in Video Games and Esports
Speakers:

• Rodolphe Ruffie-Farrugia, IGET
• Leonid Shmatenko, IGET

Topics:

• Detailed overview of the unique dispute landscape in video games and esports
• Statistical analysis of dispute types and frequency across the industry
• Case studies demonstrating the limitations of traditional litigation
• Comparative analysis of ADR implementation in parallel digital industries
• Economic impact assessment of protracted disputes on industry growth

11:35 AM – 12:15 PM (CEST) – Introducing the International Games and Esports Tribunal (IGET)
Speakers:

• Stephen Hanna
• Leandro Toscano
• Rodolphe Ruffie-Farrugia
• Leonid Shmatenko

Topics:

• The vision and mission of IGET as a specialized ADR institution
• Operational structure and governance framework
• Procedural rules tailored to gaming and esports disputes
• Panel composition and expertise requirements
• Technology infrastructure supporting global accessibility
• Cost structures and timing expectations
• Enforcement mechanisms and international recognition
• Case examples illustrating IGET’s approach to common dispute types

12:15 PM – 12:30 PM (CEST) – Q&A Session
This interactive segment will allow participants to pose questions directly to the panel, addressing specific concerns relevant to their stakeholder position within the industry.

12:30 PM (CEST) – Closing Remarks
A brief synthesis of key takeaways and next steps for industry participants interested in engaging with IGET.

Speaker Expertise

The webinar features renowned experts at the intersection of dispute resolution and digital entertainment:

Leandro Toscano leads the Business Development and Digital Content Disputes Section at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, bringing extensive experience in international IP dispute resolution systems and digital content conflicts across multiple industries.

Stephen Hanna, as CEO of the Esports Integrity Commission, has spearheaded numerous initiatives to establish governance frameworks and integrity standards in competitive gaming, working closely with tournament operators, publishers, and regulatory bodies worldwide.

Rodolphe Ruffie-Farrugia brings to IGET specialized expertise in international arbitration and the gaming sector, having worked extensively with major publishers and platform holders on dispute resolution frameworks.

Leonid Shmatenko contributes deep knowledge of both traditional ADR systems and the unique challenges of digital entertainment disputes, with particular focus on cross-border enforcement mechanisms.

Industry Implications and Future Outlook

As gaming and esports continue to mature as industries, effective dispute resolution mechanisms become increasingly critical to sustainable growth. IGET represents a significant advancement in this area, offering specialized expertise that accounts for the unique technical, commercial, and international aspects of gaming disputes.

The establishment of IGET signals several important industry trends:

1. Increasing Institutionalization: The gaming and esports industries are developing more sophisticated governance structures as they mature, moving beyond ad hoc dispute resolution approaches.
2. Recognition of Specialized Expertise: The formation of IGET acknowledges that gaming disputes require adjudicators with specific industry knowledge rather than generalist legal backgrounds.
3. Privacy Priorities: The confidential nature of ADR processes reflects the industry’s preference for resolving disputes away from public scrutiny that could damage brands or commercial relationships.
4. Cross-Border Standardization: IGET represents a step toward establishing consistent approaches to disputes that transcend national boundaries, creating greater predictability for global industry participants.
5. Efficiency Focus: The streamlined processes offered by IGET acknowledge the rapid pace of the gaming industry and the need for timely resolutions that match industry timelines.

For legal professionals serving clients in this space, understanding this emerging alternative dispute resolution framework is becoming essential professional knowledge. The 7 May webinar provides a timely opportunity to gain insights directly from the experts developing this system.

Those interested in attending can register at https://lnkd.in/gAVVJmiS and learn more about IGET at www.iget.gg.

This article was prepared for Esports Legal News based on information provided by IGET, ESIC, and WIPO AMC regarding their upcoming webinar on specialized dispute resolution in gaming and esports.