Game Group Expansion and Publishing Exit

A video game developer with more than 100 million downloads worldwide was preparing two parallel moves outside the main studio: launching a new standalone title and stepping away from an existing agreement with a major international publisher. The new game involved a potential collaboration with one of the world's leading firearms manufacturers, raising brand licensing, likeness rights, and cross-border regulatory questions. The publishing exit required careful work on revenue distribution, post-termination duties, and non-compete terms. The client needed clear IP ownership, disciplined development contracts, and a clean separation from the publisher — all before locking in long-term commercial commitments.

We acted as ongoing legal counsel across the standalone game, the brand collaboration, and the publishing exit:

1. Contractual framework — drafted and negotiated agreements with external studios and freelance contractors covering development, design, and production, with clear IP ownership, delivery procedures, milestone-based payments, and platform-specific rights.
2. Brand licensing — led negotiations on the integration of real-world weapons from a leading firearms manufacturer, addressing brand licensing, likeness rights, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory compliance across Cyprus and the UAE.
3. Publishing exit — reviewed and drafted termination terms with the existing international publisher, focusing on revenue distribution, post-termination responsibilities, and non-compete provisions.
4. Ongoing counsel — served as family office and standing legal advisor across the client's independent ventures outside the main studio, building consistent legal foundations for new creative and commercial projects.