Is Sony Charging Developers for Adding Crossplay? (VL458)

As the "Epic vs Apple" festivities begin in earnest, enterprising Internet citizens discover more and more interesting documents in the discovery materials. ***

Now, Tom Warren of The Verge has uncovered exchanges between Epic and Sony in which the PlayStation manufacturer rejected attempts by Epic to add "crossplay" (or "cross-platform play") in Epic's Fortnite product, before possibly determining that it could justify the move...with a bit of royalty incentive.

Is Sony charging for crossplay? Would this be a new concept for the industry? Is it completely unacceptable or can it be justified? And what does the company's own publisher agreement say about the topic?

Apple v Epic is the gift that keeps on giving...in Virtual Legality.

#PlayStation #Sony #Crossplay

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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
2:04 An Exchange of Emails
11:30 A Crossplay Revenue Plan
21:09 The Global Developer and Publisher Agreement
31:02 Conclusion (Quieting the Discord)

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Discussed in this episode:

"An Antitrust Epic"
YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-lb7ReoUqL5_dTcM8ngmfV

Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc.
Court Listener
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17442392/epic-games-inc-v-apple-inc/

"The Last of Us Part 2 as Reviewed by...Microsoft? (VL457)"
YouTube Video - May 3, 2021 - Hoeg Law
https://youtu.be/Cqkg5giDJNU

"...this is an email from Sony to Epic Games in 2018..."
Twitter Thread - May 3, 2021 - Tom Warren
https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1389259771354681348

"Sony really hated PS4 crossplay, confidential documents reveal"
The Verge - May 3, 2021
https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/3/22417560/sony-ps4-cross-play-confidential-documents-epic-games-agreements

"GLOBAL DEVELOPER & PUBLISHER AGREEMENT" (2017)
SEC EDGAR Database
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/000162828017005833/ex10-48.htm

"Announcing PlayStation’s new Partnership with Discord"
PlayStation Blog - May 3, 2021
https://www.sie.com/en/blog/announcing-playstations-new-partnership-with-discord

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"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

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Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com

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DESIGN WORK
Joe Ellis (Logo Design)
Chris Leroux (Motion Graphics)
For more information: contact Chris at @Chrisleroux on Twitter.

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