YLS Creative Arts/Video Game Law Committee (03/06/26)

Topic: THE SEX TALK: A History of Video Game Censorship 

Description: The naughty bits of video games have generated criticism, controversy, and calls for censorship for decades. Censorship efforts have historically been unsuccessful in dictating taste and restricting free expression in this evolving medium. However, this year lobbyists successfully pressured popular game platforms like Steam and Itch.io to delist thousands of mature games by leveraging the terms and service policies of their payment processors. Was this a victory for values or a dangerous departure? In this presentation and QA, game industry attorney 

Ross A. Hersemann will review the history of censorship efforts in the video game industry and highlight private and public policy trends that affect developers and consumers of mature games today.

Speaker: Ross A. Hersemann is the Founder of Loading Law, a Chicago-based law practice, and provides legal counsel to creators and creative professionals. Ross is also the Organizer of the Chicago Video Game Law Summit and an Adjunct Professor of Video Game Law at DePaul University. He speaks frequently on hot topics in law and technology. Ross also serves as the Chair of IGDA Chicago, Chair of the CBA YLS Creative Arts Committee, and Associate Board member for Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

(IL MCLE credit for live webcast only. No MCLE credit for on demand webcast.)

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