Articles
Who Is Liable When AI Gets It Wrong: Broken Production, Infringed Rights
Liability for a model's mistake sits with whoever took its output into their work. How to allocate that risk by contract between client, studio and vendor.
Who Is Liable When AI Gets It Wrong: Broken Production, Infringed Rights
Liability for a model's mistake sits with whoever took its output into their work. How to allocate that risk by contract between client, studio and vendor.
Firing Over ChatGPT: What Counts as a Leak When Staff Feed Work Data to AI
Feeding work data into a model can destroy trade secret status, and a court has already ruled on it. What counts as reasonable measures and when a dismissal holds.
AI Has to Introduce Itself in the EU From 2 August: How Article 50 Works
From 2 August the EU requires AI to declare itself. Who discloses what, which systems are covered and what a breach costs.
Real Brands and Cars in Games: Trademark Infringement or Atmosphere
Real car brands and logos in a game: where atmosphere ends and trademark infringement begins.
Who Owns the Rights to Your Game: Employees, Freelancers and Contractors
Rights in code, art and music stay with their authors by default. What contracts with staff, freelancers and contractors need to bring those rights to the studio.
OpenAI Couldn't Trademark Its Own Name in the EU: What the Case Teaches Game Studios
The EU office refused OpenAI protection for its own name, holding it descriptive. What that means for a game title and when to file.
Licensing IP in Games: Brand Collaborations as a Growth Strategy
A brand collaboration rests on a licence. What makes a strong pitch to the rights holder and what to fix in the contract.
Saudi Arabia Joins the Madrid System: What It Means for Trademark Owners
From 8 October 2026, Saudi Arabia can be designated in an international trademark application. What changes for studios and tech companies.
Web3: The Next Frontier: Rights and Asset Ownership in Blockchain Games
The play-to-earn boom has receded, but the question of who owns in-game assets is sharper than ever. How Japan, the UAE and Hong Kong turned Web3 gaming rules into law — and what it means for studios structuring a project today.
A Cease-and-Desist Over a Common-Term Trademark: The Figma Dev Mode Case for Game Studios
When a cease-and-desist letter arrives over a common-term trademark, here is the playbook — from the Figma Dev Mode case.
Trademark Registration for a Game: When to File
When to register a trademark for a game — and what it costs to get the timing wrong. Three cases: The Day Before, Ion Maiden, and five years spent reclaiming a studio's own name.
Loot Boxes in 2026: Regulation Map for Game Studios
Where loot boxes count as gambling, where odds disclosure is mandatory, and what to build into monetization before launch — a 2026 map of the key markets.
Andrey Ivashentsev — Strategic Advisor to Futura Digital
Meet Futura Digital's new Strategic Advisor, Andrey Ivashentsev: co-founder of GDCy, president of CYGMA, 15+ years in gamedev and 8 years on Cyprus.
Futura Cyprus — a single product for the Cyprus setup for tech and gamedev
Cyprus setup for tech and gamedev used to mean six parallel tracks: incorporation, IP Box, substance, banking, accounting, trade marks. We've consolidated it into a single product.
Cyprus for GameDev and IT Founders in 2026: Tax, IP Box, and Company Setup
What relocating founders actually need to know — tax rates, residency, banking, BCS status, and IP protection in one place.
When Your Hit Game Gets a Twin
Game cloning is one of the most common IP challenges in the industry. The moment a title gains traction, copycat developers often appear within days — and the legal tools available to fight back are more varied and more powerful than most developers expect.
Futura Digital in the Legal 500 2026: Tier 4 in IP and Firms to Watch in TMT
Futura Digital is ranked in the Legal 500 2026 for the UAE: Tier 4 in IP and Firms to Watch in TMT.
Why GameDev Is Thriving in the UAE: A Growing Hub for Innovation
The UAE's free zones and dedicated gaming initiatives -- AD Gaming, DTEC, DMCC Technology Ecosystems -- are turning the country into a magnet for game development studios looking to relocate or expand into the GCC.
Xsolla & Futura Xmas Night: A Gamedev Community Evening in Dubai
Xsolla & Futura Xmas Night brought Dubai's gamedev community together for a warm evening of talks and connection.
Futura among the leaders of the Pravo-300 ranking
The results of the Pravo-300 ranking have been published, and for Futura this serves as an important confirmation of the strength and consistency of our key practices. We secured strong positions across the areas that matter most to us — including Group I in Digital Economy.
China's Gaming Market: Censorship, Negotiations, and Cultural Nuances for Developers
The Chinese game market is the biggest in the world in terms of both revenue size and the number of players. This country is a unique ecosystem with its own platforms, publishers, and strict government regulation.
Digital Fairness Act 2025: How the EU Plans to Reinvent Transparency in Games and In-App Payments
The EU's Digital Fairness Act aims to turn soft guidance on dark patterns, loot boxes and in-app payments into binding rules. What the initiative covers — and where it actually stands as of July 2026.
Epic Games v. Google: How a Landmark Ruling Reshapes App Payments in 2025
Epic Games v. Google reshaped app payments: the injunction, Google's Play policy changes — and the 2026 settlement that cut standard fees to 20%. Updated with what changed by July 2026.
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YouTube Policy Update 2025: New Rules for Gambling and Violent Gaming Content
Starting 17 November 2025, YouTube will begin enforcing a significantly tightened set of rules for videos and livestreams featuring gambling mechanics and violent gameplay. The update focuses on user safety — especially for minors — and formalises moderation practices that creators have increasingly encountered over the past year.
Futura joins the jury of the “Digital Lawyer of the Year” Award
The “Digital Lawyer of the Year” Award recently took place, celebrating the most impactful projects in digital law and the data economy.
IT Park Uzbekistan and Futura Launch Strategic Partnership to Drive Digital Growth
At the Global Business Services Forum 2025 — hosted by IT Park Uzbekistan with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan — IT Park Uzbekistan and Futura signed a Memorandum of Unde
Futura at the Eurasian Data Protection Congress
On October 20, Futura took part in the Eurasian Data Protection Congress
Futura in the October issue of Legal Insight
Two expert articles by Futura were featured in the October issue of Legal Insight, a leading publication on law and business.
New guide for doing business in the UAE: Futura’s contribution
BRICS+ New Economy & Legal Infrastructure Center released the Doing Business BRICS+ Guide — a practical handbook for companies entering the UAE market.
Uzbekistan and New Opportunities for the Digital Industry
Futura took part in the Global Business Forum in Tashkent — a key platform for companies exploring Uzbekistan’s potential in IT and the digital economy.
Futura at the launch of the Cyprus chapter of Women in Games
Alexandra Kurdyumova, co-founder of Futura, joined the very first meetup of Women in Games Cyprus.
Futura Digital at GDCy Fest 2025 in Limassol
Alexandra Kurdyumova, co-founder of Futura Digital, spoke at GDCy Fest 2025 in Limassol about choosing jurisdictions for launching and scaling game studios.
Whistleblower Policy: What It Is and How to Build One Without the Bureaucracy
A practical guide to building a compliant whistleblower policy: what regulators require, and how Futura Digital helped an ADGM-based client set up a working process without extra bureaucracy.
Hong Kong – A New Haven for Businesses from the CIS?
As the global landscape continues to shift, Hong Kong is gaining increasing importance for businesses seeking effective redomiciliation and tax optimization.
Redomiciliation of companies to Hong Kong: now available to everyone
On May 23, 2025, Hong Kong officially allowed the redomiciliation of foreign companies. Previously, only investment funds had this opportunity, but now any company can move to Hong Kong.
Futura recognized in global ranking for representing CIS business abroad
As part of the recent St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, Pravo.ru published the results of its annual research “Map of CIS Business Representation Abroad.”
Futura Digital at the “Growth Point” Forum in Tashkent
Roman Motorin, Senior Associate at Futura Digital, took part in the “Growth Point” Forum — a key event for the digital community in Central Asia, held in Tashkent.
Futura Among the Honored at the MENA Game Industry Awards!
We’re proud and excited to announce that Futura has been named one of the Honored at the prestigious MENA Game Industry Awards 2025!
Scraping: Reddit vs Anthropic
Reddit sued Anthropic for scraping its platform to train Claude without permission or payment — a first-of-its-kind test of content-licensing law.
What’s the Current State of GameDev Investment?
At the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025, Alexandra Kurdyumova, co-founder of Futura, took part in the panel discussion “Is This The Worst (Or Best) Time To Be Seeking Investment For Your Studio?” — and it turned out to be a tr
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 — 100% complete!
We were back in Dubai with our beloved Futura Advice Pitstop — and as always, it was vibrant, dynamic, and full of purpose.
Debate on legalizing sports betting with cryptocurrency in Texas
Texas lawmakers are considering an initiative aimed at legalizing sports betting using cryptocurrency.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment issues over 14,000 licenses in 2024, up 67% YOY
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment (MISA) issued 14,303 investment licenses in 2024, up 67% YOY.
Fintech meetup 2025 in Las Vegas: 60,000+ business meetings, 2,000+ companies, and practical fintech trends
From March 10–13, 2025, Las Vegas hosted one of the world’s key fintech conferences — Fintech Meetup.
Nevada Supreme Court recognizes electronic correspondence as legally binding
The Supreme Court of the State of Nevada has ruled that electronic correspondence between a taxpayer and the Department of Taxation can be considered a written agreement with legal force.
Suhoor and Padel Night with Futura, EY MENA, NVIDIA, and Shorooq Partners
The best ideas often start with a simple “What if...?”—and sometimes, they grow into something much bigger.
Oman’s omanization rate increases in 2024
In 2024, Oman made significant progress in implementing its Omanization program, which aims to increase the share of national talent in various sectors of the economy.
Bill AB 276 proposes linking Nevada’s commerce tax threshold to inflation
A bill introduced in the Nevada State Legislature — AB 276 — proposes raising the commerce tax threshold from the current $4 million and indexing it to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Block on Texas corporate ownership transparency law
A federal judge in Texas has suspended the enforcement of the corporate ownership transparency law, which required companies to disclose information about their beneficial owners.
Senator Ted Cruz secures repeal of federal cryptocurrency regulation
The President of the United States has signed a resolution introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, repealing an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule that required market participants to disclose information about cryptocurrency transactions.
Hong Kong: new initiatives in technology and trade
Hong Kong authorities have announced a series of initiatives to boost promising industries and strengthen the region’s position as an international financial hub.
Vietnam tightens App Store game rules – Apple requires licenses
Apple has reminded game studios that they need a special license to distribute games on the Vietnamese market.
Bill S.B. 29 strengthens corporate governance in Texas
The Texas Senate has approved S.B. 29, a bill aimed at improving corporate governance standards and enhancing the state’s appeal as a business jurisdiction.
Strengthening cooperation between Bahrain and South Korea and the European Union in the field of intellectual property
Bahrain has been actively strengthening international cooperation in the field of intellectual property by signing Memorandums of Understanding with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
Oman and Saudi Arabia sign three new agreements to strengthen economic relations
In 2024, Oman and Saudi Arabia strengthened their economic relations by signing three new agreements covering the following areas: cloud computing, legal services, and jewelry manufacturing.
Golden Gate Ventures announces strategic partnership with Oman investment authority
Golden Gate Ventures, a leading Singapore-based venture capital firm, announced a strategic partnership with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) through its technology investment arm, Innovation Development Oman (IDO).
Dallas emerges as a fintech hub
Dallas has strengthened its position as one of the leading financial technology centers in the United States, with fintech among the fastest-growing segments of the city's startup scene.
Oman updates national AI policy
Oman plans to introduce an updated national artificial intelligence (AI) policy in the first quarter of 2025, which will serve as the framework for the development and regulation of AI technologies in the country.
Qatar and India entered into memorandums of understanding to establish a strategic partnership
In February 2025, India and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in various areas, including energy, start-up ecosystems, fintech, technology and artificial intelligence.
New 6-month work permit for expats in Bahrain
Bahrain has introduced a new 6‑month work permit for expats already residing in the country and working in the commercial sector.
DMCA and User-Generated Content: Nintendo vs. Garry's Mod
Nintendo pushed Garry's Mod to purge two decades of fan content, then hit Switch emulators on GitHub with mass DMCA takedowns in 2026. What UGC platforms need in their ToU to actually qualify for safe harbor.
Central Bank of Bahrain develops rules for issuing stablecoins
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has begun developing regulatory rules for the issuance of stablecoins - cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of traditional assets such as national currencies.
Legal Consultations from Futura at the White Nights Conference
White Nights in Abu Dhabi in 2024 was a blast – one of the biggest international events in the gaming industry, buzzing with energy, big ideas, and game-changing connections!
Beyond Borders: How Gaming is Expanding in the GCC
The GCC gaming market is booming, and it’s more than just numbers—it’s a movement.
In the United States, copyright was granted to an image created using AI tools
On 30 January 2025 the US Copyright Office registered 'A Single Piece of American Cheese' — the first image containing substantial AI-generated material to be accepted onto the register. Protection covers only the human contribution: the selection, coordination and arrangement of the AI-generated material, while the machine-generated expression is excluded from the claim.
Tax Incentives for IT and Game Development Businesses
A rundown of the main corporate tax incentives -- IP-box regimes, free-zone rates, R&D credits -- available to IT and game development companies, and how the OECD's 15% global minimum tax caps them.
How the EU AI Act Redefines AI for the Game Industry
How the EU AI Act's risk-based rules, transparency duties, and new bans on nudifiers and deepfake generation apply to game studios building AI-powered features.
Nintendo and Pokémon Sue Over “Pokémon With Guns” Game — What You Need to Know
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are suing Palworld developer Pocketpair over three Japanese gameplay-mechanic patents, not copyright. Here's what the case covers and what changed by mid-2026.
Tackling Game Clones: A Modern Industry Guide
How studios push back on game clones: DMCA takedowns, unfair-competition suits, and copyright claims explained.
Saudi Arabia’s metaverse market size estimated at $1.5 billion in 2024
The Saudi Arabian metaverse market was valued at approximately $1.5 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach $37.2 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 38.5%.
Oman’s AI investment reaches $155.9 Million in 2024
Oman’s AI investment reached $155.9 million in 2024. The Sultanate is actively attracting foreign companies and experts to share experiences and jointly develop AI technologies.
DMCA in Action: How It Works in 2026
How the Digital Millennium Copyright Act helps game developers remove cloned games, unauthorized copies, and pirated content from the internet without going to court.
New MiCA licenses in the EU
The Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation (MiCA) has applied to crypto-asset service providers in the European Union since 30 December 2024: to operate in the EU, every crypto-asset service provider (CASP) needs a licence.
Hong Kong: record foreign investment in 2024
Hong Kong achieved record levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024. Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) assisted 539 overseas and mainland companies to set up or expand their businesses in the region, an increase of 41% year-on-year.
Saudi Arabia issues 127 regional headquarters licences in Q1 2024, up 477% year-on-year
Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in attracting foreign investment and hosting regional headquarters for international companies in 2024.
New VAT rules for cryptocurrency mining in the UAE
On January 14, 2025, the UAE Tax Authority issued a clarification on the application of VAT to cryptocurrency mining.
The European Commission has been fined for the first time for violating the GDPR
The European Commission has agreed to pay a fine of 400 euros to a German citizen following an investigation by the German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).
Hong Kong introduces corporate redomiciliation
On 20 December 2024, the Hong Kong Government published a Bill to amend the Companies Ordinance to introduce a mechanism for redomiciliation.
Central Bank of Oman approves open banking regulatory framework
The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has approved a regulatory framework for open banking, joining a number of global central banks adopting the innovation.
The UK and Qatar have launched a project to expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence
The UK and Qatar have announced the establishment of a joint research group on artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative aims to develop a roadmap for collaboration between the two countries on AI that will deliver mutual benefits.
Futura at WN C-level Summit Abu Dhabi: conversations under the stars that stay with you
This year, WN C-level Summit was held in Abu Dhabi for the first time — and it felt instantly special.
Singapore MAS Crypto Exchange License: Step-by-Step Process
A step-by-step look at Singapore's Payment Services Act framework and the process of getting a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) license for a crypto exchange.
Alexandra Kurdyumova Moderates MENA Gaming Ecosystem Panel at HIT Games Conference
On November 22, we participated in a special panel at HIT Games Conference in Abu Dhabi, bringing together key voices from across the gaming industry to talk about one of the most exciting markets today — the MENA region
Set up in the UAE — What’s next? Futura Workshop at HIT Games Conference
At the end of November, the Futura team headed to Abu Dhabi for HIT Games Conference 2024 — a vibrant gathering that brought together people who live and breathe games and technology.
Futura at the UAE Creative Industries Session in Dubai
On November 15, Futura took part in the session “Collaboration in Creative Industries: Opportunities in Animation and Video Games”, held as part of the World of Opportunities International Business Forum at The Ritz-Carlton.
A heartfelt thank you to Shorooq Partners for inviting us to the Gitex Social Event!
Fresh off the incredible experience at GITEX (the largest tech conference that took place in Dubai) we were truly honored to be invited to the beautiful GITEX Social event hosted by our friends at Shorooq Partners.
Futura Advice Pitstop at the White Nights in Cyprus
This September, our Futura team traveled to Cyprus to bring back one of our favorite traditions — Futura Advice Pitstop.
Futura at White Nights in Istanbul: Gamedev Leaders, Warm Connections, and Futura Advice Pitstop
The Futura team recently returned from Istanbul, where we attended the White Nights conference—an event known for gathering gamedev industry leaders and talented developers from around the globe.
Futura Talks: You opened a company in the UAE. What’s next?
On May 9, we met again at AD Gaming in Abu Dhabi — this time to talk about what happens after the company is launched.
Alexandra Kurdyumova at Dubai Game Expo Summit: How the MENA Region is Becoming a New Player on the Global Stage
Futura’s co-founder Alexandra Kurdyumova took part in the Dubai Game Expo Summit as a speaker in the panel discussion "MENA’s Rising Star: How can the Region Compete on the Global Stage?".
Futura at Dubai Game Expo Summit: Talking Games, Solving Cases, and Hosting our Advice Pitstop
The Futura team recently attended the Dubai Game Expo Summit—one of the most vibrant events in the gaming industry.
Futura at LEAP Conference in Riyadh: Innovation, Discovery, and Impressive Scale
Futura’s journey of inspiration and innovation continues!
Futura at Web Summit in Qatar: Inspiration, Scale, and New Horizons
The Futura team attended one of the year’s most remarkable events—the large-scale Web Summit conference in Qatar.
Alexandra Kurdyumova Speaks on GCC Gaming Business Growth at White Nights
On the first day of the White Nights conference in Abu Dhabi, Alexandra Kurdyumova spoke at a panel discussion about growing a gaming business in the GCC region.
Futura Advice Pitstop at the WN Conference in Abu Dhabi
In February, we had the pleasure of being part of the White Nights conference in Abu Dhabi, supported by AD Gaming.
Futura x InMobi x UGC Ninja: How Data Privacy Rules Shape Game Publishing and Marketing
A joint session with InMobi and UGC Ninja on how data privacy rules shape mobile game publishing and marketing.
Futura Talks: Taxation in the UAE
A Futura Talks session on the tax issues that matter most to creative businesses in the UAE — foreign tax credit, IP Box, and more, explained in plain language.
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