Translator：Wang Yichun

On February 23, 2023, the themed salon "Games Going Global, Winning the Future," spearheaded by the Digital Economy Legal Services Team of Landing Law Offices, was triumphantly organized using a hybrid of online and offline formats.

In sync with the meteoric expansion of the global gaming market, an increasing number of gaming enterprises are exploring avenues for overseas business deployment. During this international venture, companies must adhere to the legal norms and guidelines of the target country, abide by pertinent international treaties and regulations, observe trade sanctions and anti-money laundering rules, and ensure that their business practices are under legal protection and regulatory compliance. Owing to the distinct legal frameworks across various countries and regions, non-compliant operations by gaming companies could lead to multifaceted risks. To address the intricate and multifarious requirements for international compliance, Landing Law Offices assembled over 20 seasoned experts from the gaming industry to collectively explore pertinent challenges related to gaming compliance abroad.

The event was inaugurated by Director Liu Yixing of Landing's Global Managing Committee, who extended his heartfelt appreciation to the esteemed gaming industry veterans for gracing the occasion at Landing Law Offices. Director Liu extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the seasoned professionals in the gaming industry for gracing Landing Law Offices with their presence and participating in this event, and acknowledged the noteworthy performance of many Chinese gaming companies in foreign markets, highlighting that overseas operations contribute significantly to their revenue streams. Nonetheless, he pointed out that the majority of Chinese enterprises are inexperienced in offshore investment and often exhibit a limited awareness of legal implications. In the current international landscape, characterized by unpredictability and where numerous countries resort to legal mechanisms to impose sanctions and restrictions on Chinese firms, the importance of legal risk mitigation when expanding globally cannot be overstated. Furthermore, considering that foreign legal counsel may not be adequately acquainted with the specificities of Chinese enterprises, Director Liu emphasized the indispensable role of Chinese legal support, affirming that Chinese companies embarking on international journeys require the strength and guidance of Chinese lawyers.

Following the opening remarks, one of the event's organizers, Ren Dandan, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, expressing gratitude for their presence and wishing everyone an enjoyable afternoon at Landing Law Offices. In the opening segment, the host, Ye Juan, orchestrated a series of self-introductions by the guests in a group format. The lawyers in attendance also made their individual introductions, showcasing their specific areas of expertise and facilitating a communal familiarity among the participants. Subsequently, Associate Xu Nianjun and Senior Consultant Ye Juan from Landing Law Offices led the group in two thematic discussions for the salon.

In his segment, Xu Nianjun succinctly outlined various tasks inherent to the phases of game development, operation, and distribution. He shed light on prevalent challenges faced by gaming companies in their global ventures, encompassing areas such as authorization review and intellectual property compliance of the overseas products, adherence to laws and regulations of the target country/region, adjustments in alignment with policy-related restrictions, product localization, on-site compliance, digital classification systems, and more. Furthermore, Xu employed the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions as illustrative examples to deeply elucidate the market nuances and compliance issues therein, including an analysis of contemporary game compliance hot topics in Taiwan.

Ye Juan's presentation focused on the intriguing subject of cross-border data transmission and the protection of personal information within games. Starting with a review of common cross-border data scenarios, Ye Juan demystified the intricate paths of cross-border data compliance and detailed the associated regulations in select Asian countries. Transitioning to a European context, Ye Juan illuminated the principles of GDPR's long-arm jurisdiction and delineated the severe implications that could arise from non-compliance with GDPR. In her concluding remarks, Ye Juan synergized the principles of GDPR with China's Personal Information Protection Law to articulate aspects of personal information protection within games. This included insights into the unique nature of personal information in gaming, the textual requisites for lawful collection of personal data, pivotal areas for product interaction design compliance, and an overview of typical personal information scenarios and fields within the gaming landscape.

During the interactive exchange segment, the attendees delved into animated discussions, sharing insights on the challenges and experiences encountered by gaming companies in their global expansion efforts. Zhang Hanqing, Legal Director of Youzu Network, recounted in a vivid and illustrative manner the practical experiences of Youzu Network—being a prominent industry leader—in its global endeavors, and emphasized its cognizance of the significance of overseas compliance. Sun Haoran, an in-house lawyer of DeNA, engaged with the participants in dissecting the legal intricacies and practical nuances of game expansion into pertinent countries. Ding Xiaobei, the CEO of Shanghai Jianwan Network Technology Co., Ltd., facilitated a collaborative exploration of the complex issues surrounding intellectual property rights protection.

Following a refreshing tea break, the salon event concluded. This assembly, examining the multifaceted considerations essential for gaming companies during international expansion, succeeded in drawing the active participation and enthusiastic engagement of more than 20 gaming industry representatives. Upholding the principles of "Specialized Services, International Vision, and Steady Development," Landing Law Offices has established subsidiaries in countries including the United States, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and India. Landing is committed to providing comprehensive legal services to facilitate Chinese companies in their global quests, leveraging its extensive experience to assist more Chinese enterprises in making their mark on the world stage. Moving forward, Landing Law Offices intends to orchestrate a wider array of interactive activities, keen to heed the insights and recommendations of Chinese corporations. With a dedication to epitomizing the embodiment of Chinese strength in supporting domestic companies' global aspirations, Landing pledges to wield the law as an instrument, ensuring a secure and successful journey for Chinese enterprises.