Targeting Dr. Disrespect: Do Twitch Changes Pose Legal Issues? (VL331)

As it turns out, Twitch's ban of Dr. Disrespect has not been limited solely to direct action against the popular streamer.

With Dr. Disrespect increasing his footing on YouTube and elsewhere, he's appearing more and more often in the lobbies of streamers still tied to Amazon's Twitch streaming platform.

But while an ordinary observer might find such appearances to be of little import or concern, Twitch has a different opinion, recently changing their Community Guidelines to require streamers to mute or otherwise isolate all "suspended users".

Twitch is, of course, permitted to operate their system as they see fit, but such a broad reading of "suspension evasion" could have similarly broad implication for streamers both on and off the platform.

Implications that might just touch on some law.

You have to be very careful with restrictions affecting another's ability to make a living...in Virtual Legality.

#Twitch #Ban #DrDisrespect

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Discussed in this episode:

"Twitch Bans Dr. Disrespect - A Legal Discussion"
YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy98pOuP1cC8o7nraoJEcmuG

"Will Nadeshot Be Banned Having Dr Disrespect on His Twitch Channel?"
YouTube Video - September 10, 2020 - Esports Talk
https://youtu.be/EEFvDpJyd7E

"Community Guidelines"
Twitch - Updated September 22, 2020
https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/

"Community Guidelines"
Twitch - Updated April 28, 2020
https://web.archive.org/web/20200907135654/https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/

"Twitch changes policy after Dr Disrespect plays on live stream with Nadeshot and Snoop Dogg"
SportsKeeda Website - Updated September 29, 2020 - Daniel Wenerowicz
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/twitch-changes-policy-dr-disrespect-plays-live-stream-nadeshot-snoop-dogg

First Amendment
US Constitution
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

"Contracts in Restraint of Trade"
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE - 16600 (CA)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=16600

"Are Non-Competes Enforceable in California?"
Callahan & Blaine Website
https://www.callahan-law.com/are-non-competes-enforceable-in-california/

"Twitch megastar Shroud is joining Ninja on Mixer as an exclusive streamer"
The Verge - October 24, 2019 - Julia Alexander
https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/24/20930647/twitch-shroud-mixer-microsoft-ninja-amazon-exclusive

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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
Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com
STORE: https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store

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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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