Advertising, Marketing & Promotions; Entertainment, Media & Publishing; Intellectual Property; Technology, Digital Media & Privacy
gboyd@dglaw.com
V-CARD gboyd@dglaw.com
S. Gregory Boyd is an associate in the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions; Entertainment, Media, & Publishing; Intellectual Property; Technology, Digital Media & Privacy Practice Groups of Davis & Gilbert. His practice focuses on transactional work, counseling, and licensing. Mr. Boyd’s industry experience includes interactive entertainment and new media.
Mr. Boyd has extensive experience drafting and negotiating game development agreements for console, PC, mobile games, casual games, online games and MMO's. He has also drafted and negotiated a variety of other agreements, including IP licensing, privacy, and employment agreements for multiple game and high technology media publishers and developers. Mr. Boyd also has experience with all legal documents associated with the ongoing operations of multiple online games, social networks, high technology media outlets, and virtual worlds. He has advised high technology media companies on intellectual property portfolios and counseled on licensing, development, litigation, and registration of intellectual property.
Mr. Boyd is an adjunct professor teaching a seminar in advanced intellectual property at New York Law School. While in law school, Mr. Boyd served on the North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology, where he also served on the Executive Editorial Board.
REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS
- Represented a major media company in creating a rating system for international distribution of online games.
- Represented one of the largest media companies in China, negotiating and drafting a game development agreement involving additional U.K. investment in an American game company for a massively multiplayer online game.
- Represented one of the largest online distributors for independent digital artists, in high-volume licensing contracts with several media partners including negotiating and drafting the agreements.
- Represented a film studio in drafting and negotiating employment agreements for creative talent and licensing agreements for digital content, DVD, and cable network distribution.
- Represented an animation expert in licensing his software technology to a large media conglomerate for use in several projects, including drafting and negotiating the agreements.
- Negotiated and drafted several agreements for a major Korean game company in bringing mobile phone games into the American market.
- Represented the founders of an internationally recognized food and travel guide business in the sale of that business including licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Localization Speaking the Same Language: Literally and Figuratively,” Game Developers Conference Europe 2010, August 16-18, 2010
"Trademarks 101," DigiPen Pod Cast, May 2, 2010
"The Next BIG Thing,” MIT Sloan Business and Gaming Conference, April 16, 2010
"Pitfalls of Virtual Property,” Triangle Game Conference, April 7-8, 2010.
"IGDA: Legal Roundtable @ GDC - For Lawyers and Aspiring Lawyers," International Game Developers Association: Legal Roundtable, March 10, 2010
"Comparing Virtual World/MMO Business Models: Make the Right Choice," Digital Law Conference, September 23-24, 2009
"Legal Issues in Contemporary Gaming," Penny Arcade Expo, September 4-6, 2009
“Legal Workshop on International Operation of Virtual Worlds,” FAVE 2009 First International Conference on Facets of Virtual Environments, July 27-29, 2009
"Online Games & Virtual Worlds: Capitalizing on Business Opportunities While Avoiding Legal Pitfalls," The Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel Conference, June 25, 2009
"Advertising in Games," MIT Sloan Business in Games (BIG) Conference: Marketing and Distribution in the Digital Age, May 8, 2009
"Engine Licensing and IP Protection," Triangle Game Conference, April 30, 2009
"Legal and Business Issues with Virtual Property Revenue(s)," Independent MMO Game Developers Conference, April 17-19, 2009
"Unreality Bytes: Intellectual Property Risks in Virtual Worlds," USC Gould School of Law 2009 Intellectual Property Institute, March 17, 2009
"Advertising and Games: Emerging Issues," New York State Bar Association, February 5, 2009
"Hold On To Your Controller: Was That an Ad or Is It Just Part of the Play," 30th Annual Promotional Marketing Association’s Promotion Marketing Law Conference, November 20-21, 2008
"Game Theory, Play Money: Introducing the NYC Scene," Digital Games Research Association: Columbia Business School, November 7, 2008
“Comparing Virtual Property Models— A Business and Legal Perspective,” Austin Game Developers Conference, September 15-17, 2008
“Intellectual Property in Games,” Digital Game XPO, June 20-21, 2008
“The Wealth of Virtual Nations,” State of Play - Asia, New York Law School, June 2007
“IP in Persistent Online Worlds,” Minneapolis Independent Massively Multiplayer Online Game Conference, April 2007
“Building Successful Online Game Business Plans,” Harvard Business School, April 2007
“IP – Creating It, Keeping It, and Exploiting It,” Think Services, Game Developers Conference, March 2007
“Business and Legal Issues in Online Worlds,” Columbia University Law School, February 2007
PUBLICATIONS
Co-Author, "Emerging Issues in In-Game Advertising," Gamasutra, February 11, 2009
Co-Author, “Virtual Property – Business Models and Pitfalls,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September 2008
Co-Editor and Co-Author, “Business and Legal Primer for Game Development,” Thomson Publishing, Hardcover 1st Ed. 2007
Co-Author, “Money Laundering and Securities Fraud in the Metaverse,” The Sci-Tech Lawyer, Volume 3, Issue 3, Winter 2007: A publication of the American Bar Association
PRESS
Quoted, DMNews.com, "Microsoft Sues Salesforce.com, Alleging Patent Infringement," By Nathan Golia, May 19, 2010
Interviewed, Germany Worldwide Radio - European Business Week, "High Technology Media, Commerce in Virtual Worlds and Social Media," July 28, 2009
Quoted, IP Law & Business, “Game Hero,” by Theodora Blanchfield, January 2009
Quoted, New York Law Journal, “Virtual Law, The Next Big Thing,” May 16, 2008
Quoted, Gamastura, “WoW Gold Farmers IGE, Peons4Hire Targeted In Lawsuits," June 1, 2007
Quoted, CNN Money, “Virtual Words, Real Litigation,” June 1, 2007
Quoted, IP Law and Business, “IP’s Brave New World on licensing and litigation in virtual worlds,” February 1, 2007
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
International Game Developer’s Association
BAR ADMISSIONS
New York
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
EDUCATION
New York University, M.B.A., 2010
University of North Carolina, J.D., with Honors, 2004, Chancellor’s Scholar
University of North Carolina, M.D., 2003
East Carolina University, M.S., 1998
East Carolina University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1996
REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS
- Represented a major media company in creating a rating system for international distribution of online games.
- Represented one of the largest media companies in China, negotiating and drafting a game development agreement involving additional U.K. investment in an American game company for a massively multiplayer online game.
- Represented one of the largest online distributors for independent digital artists, in high-volume licensing contracts with several media partners including negotiating and drafting the agreements.
- Represented a film studio in drafting and negotiating employment agreements for creative talent and licensing agreements for digital content, DVD, and cable network distribution.
- Represented an animation expert in licensing his software technology to a large media conglomerate for use in several projects, including drafting and negotiating the agreements.
- Negotiated and drafted several agreements for a major Korean game company in bringing mobile phone games into the American market.
- Represented the founders of an internationally recognized food and travel guide business in the sale of that business including licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Localization Speaking the Same Language: Literally and Figuratively,” Game Developers Conference Europe 2010, August 16-18, 2010
"Trademarks 101," DigiPen Pod Cast, May 2, 2010
"The Next BIG Thing,” MIT Sloan Business and Gaming Conference, April 16, 2010
"Pitfalls of Virtual Property,” Triangle Game Conference, April 7-8, 2010.
"IGDA: Legal Roundtable @ GDC - For Lawyers and Aspiring Lawyers," International Game Developers Association: Legal Roundtable, March 10, 2010
"Comparing Virtual World/MMO Business Models: Make the Right Choice," Digital Law Conference, September 23-24, 2009
"Legal Issues in Contemporary Gaming," Penny Arcade Expo, September 4-6, 2009
“Legal Workshop on International Operation of Virtual Worlds,” FAVE 2009 First International Conference on Facets of Virtual Environments, July 27-29, 2009
"Online Games & Virtual Worlds: Capitalizing on Business Opportunities While Avoiding Legal Pitfalls," The Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel Conference, June 25, 2009
"Advertising in Games," MIT Sloan Business in Games (BIG) Conference: Marketing and Distribution in the Digital Age, May 8, 2009
"Engine Licensing and IP Protection," Triangle Game Conference, April 30, 2009
"Legal and Business Issues with Virtual Property Revenue(s)," Independent MMO Game Developers Conference, April 17-19, 2009
"Unreality Bytes: Intellectual Property Risks in Virtual Worlds," USC Gould School of Law 2009 Intellectual Property Institute, March 17, 2009
"Advertising and Games: Emerging Issues," New York State Bar Association, February 5, 2009
"Hold On To Your Controller: Was That an Ad or Is It Just Part of the Play," 30th Annual Promotional Marketing Association’s Promotion Marketing Law Conference, November 20-21, 2008
"Game Theory, Play Money: Introducing the NYC Scene," Digital Games Research Association: Columbia Business School, November 7, 2008
“Comparing Virtual Property Models— A Business and Legal Perspective,” Austin Game Developers Conference, September 15-17, 2008
“Intellectual Property in Games,” Digital Game XPO, June 20-21, 2008
“The Wealth of Virtual Nations,” State of Play - Asia, New York Law School, June 2007
“IP in Persistent Online Worlds,” Minneapolis Independent Massively Multiplayer Online Game Conference, April 2007
“Building Successful Online Game Business Plans,” Harvard Business School, April 2007
“IP – Creating It, Keeping It, and Exploiting It,” Think Services, Game Developers Conference, March 2007
“Business and Legal Issues in Online Worlds,” Columbia University Law School, February 2007
PUBLICATIONS
Co-Author, "Emerging Issues in In-Game Advertising," Gamasutra, February 11, 2009
Co-Author, “Virtual Property – Business Models and Pitfalls,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September 2008
Co-Editor and Co-Author, “Business and Legal Primer for Game Development,” Thomson Publishing, Hardcover 1st Ed. 2007
Co-Author, “Money Laundering and Securities Fraud in the Metaverse,” The Sci-Tech Lawyer, Volume 3, Issue 3, Winter 2007: A publication of the American Bar Association
PRESS
Quoted, DMNews.com, "Microsoft Sues Salesforce.com, Alleging Patent Infringement," By Nathan Golia, May 19, 2010
Interviewed, Germany Worldwide Radio - European Business Week, "High Technology Media, Commerce in Virtual Worlds and Social Media," July 28, 2009
Quoted, IP Law & Business, “Game Hero,” by Theodora Blanchfield, January 2009
Quoted, New York Law Journal, “Virtual Law, The Next Big Thing,” May 16, 2008
Quoted, Gamastura, “WoW Gold Farmers IGE, Peons4Hire Targeted In Lawsuits," June 1, 2007
Quoted, CNN Money, “Virtual Words, Real Litigation,” June 1, 2007
Quoted, IP Law and Business, “IP’s Brave New World on licensing and litigation in virtual worlds,” February 1, 2007
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
International Game Developer’s Association
BAR ADMISSIONS
New York
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
EDUCATION
New York University, M.B.A., 2010
University of North Carolina, J.D., with Honors, 2004, Chancellor’s Scholar
University of North Carolina, M.D., 2003
East Carolina University, M.S., 1998
East Carolina University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1996
