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Dallas (SMU) — An internal conference on the legal and business issues of video gaming, where the challenges are sometimes trickier than imaginary bad guys and virtual dark corridors, is being held Jan. 14-15 on the campus of ������˾��.

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The Game::Business::Law summit, organized by The Guildhall at SMU, the Dedman School of Law and The Center For American and International Law, will bring together lawyers, global game industry leaders, investors, developers and publishers to explore the latest trends and to provide practical approaches for achieving success in the evolving marketplace of digital games..

The summit will be held in SMU's Underwood Law Library. A complete conference program is .

Featured speakers will include Mitch Lasky, general partner at Benchmark Capital, who will lead the first day’s panels. Lasky has spent more than two decades in the video game, new media and interactive entertainment business. Mike Hogan, chief marketing officer of GameStop Corporation, the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, will be the keynote speaker on the second day of the conference.

“Many positive and negative changes are impacting the fast-growing game industry, which is causing the focus to shift to legal issues such as who owns intellectual property,” said Dr. Peter Raad, executive director of The Guildhall at SMU. “We wanted to attract speakers who’ve been on the forefront of these legal and financing issues in the game industry, and we’re delighted to have such industry leaders as Mitch Lasky and Mike Hogan to spearhead these topics as our keynote speakers.”

Dr. Raad and Richard Garriott, executive producer for NCsoft, are co-chairs of the summit.

Other summit topics and speakers include:

• Game Developments and Business Models — Joseph Olin, President, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences will serve as moderator and Steve Nix, Director of Business Development, id Software; Jason Holtman, Director of Business Development/Legal Affairs, Valve and Dan Ferguson, Founder and Director of Game Development, Blockdot, Inc. will be speakers.
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• Michael Klotz, Games Business Senior Manager, NPD Group, will be the luncheon speaker on the first day of the conference.
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• Game Financing: Present and Future — Patrick Pugh, principal with Price Waterhouse Coopers, will moderate a discussion featuring�� experts from the game industry and financial sectors.
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• Games and Legal Issues and Challenges — Edward A. Cavazos of Fish & Richardson P.C. will act as moderator and J.J. Richards, General Manager, Advertiser & Publisher Solutions, Microsoft; Zach Bishop, Hunton & Williams and Barry Seaton of Barry C. Seaton, P.C. will serve as speakers.
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• Games in Asia: Development, Business and Legal Issues — Xuan-Thao Nguyen, professor at the ������˾��Dedman School of Law will moderate and Diana Li, CEO, Shanda Games in China will be the featured speaker.
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• Games and Gaming Litigation — David L. McCombs, Haynes and Boone, LLP will serve as moderator and John W. Crittenden, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP; Matt Esber, General Counsel, NCsoft Corporation ; Christian S. Genetski, Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal LLP; and Henry W. (Hank) Jones, III, Law Office of Henry W. Jones -and- Intersect Technology Consulting will be speakers.
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• Games and Gaming Regulations — Ken Doroshow, General Counsel, Entertainment Software Association will be interviewed by a prominent member of the media.

For additional information on the conference, please contact Ron Jenkins, deputy director of The Guildhall at SMU, at jenkinsr@smu.edu or 972-473-3546.

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