Intellectual Property Rights and Union Advocacy Key Topics at Summit Panel

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator was among the panelists and industry insiders speaking at the 2024 Video Game Bar Association Summit on June 3. His panel, Copyright & A.I. Work, provided insight into the disruptions the video game industry is experiencing due to artificial intelligence and its impact on game developers, industry professionals and performers. 

Fellow panelists included Wizards of the Coast attorney Chad Smith and Sam Lam, Skybound Entertainment senior legal Counsel, Games, and the event was moderated by Banner-Witcoff Associate Ross Dannenberg. The group discussed a range of topics about content creation, intellectual property rights and ownership, and what performers should make sure to include in their contracts to safeguard against unfair compensation and usage of their likeness.

SAG-AFTRA’s appearance at the VGBA Summit coincides with its continued efforts to reach a tentative agreement with major video game companies, including Activision Productions Inc., Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive, under the Interactive Media Agreement. Negotiations have been ongoing since September 2022. For more information and updates, visit sagaftra.org. 

The VGBA Summit, which took place June 3–4 at Loyola Law School in California, is hosted by the Video Game Bar Association, a networking association for lawyers who primarily practice in the video game industry. The summit, now in its 25th year, is attended by professionals and creatives and includes an itinerary of panels and networking events.

Photo: SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, second from left, at the 2024 VGBA Summit ‘Copyright & A.I. Works’ panel on June 3. From left, Skybound Entertainment Senior Legal Counsel, Games Sam Lam; Crabtree-Ireland; Wizards of the Coast Legal attorney Chad Smith and panel moderator and Banner-Witcoff Associate Ross Dannenberg. Photo by Diana Rivera Maldonado.