Sean F. Kane

Sean F. Kane is co-Chair of the Interactive Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit, where he represents a variety of companies in the video game industry. Sean’s clients often are on the cutting-edge of media, content and technology creation where rapid innovation is leading to the birth of new products, companies and industries. He has considerable experience negotiating licenses, developer and publisher agreements, and in protecting the intellectual property rights of video games and related applications, including trademark and copyright protection, clearance and enforcement. Variety magazine named Sean to their 2017 Dealmakers Elite New York list and 2016 Legal Impact Report.

Sean has worked at the forefront of the interactive entertainment industry for more than a decade and has represented clients on transactional matters involving various business segments, such as console and PC video games, virtual worlds, eSports, online gaming, social gaming, mobile and tablet gaming, virtual currency and mobile apps. Sean’s clients range from start-ups to the largest developers and publishers in the video game industry.

Sean is a frequent speaker on video game panels and seminars on behalf of organizations such as: the Game Developers Conference, DICE, Games Industry Law Summit and More Than Just a Game. He is frequently quoted by the media and has written extensively on legal topics relating primarily to intellectual property and entertainment issues. For example, he is the author of: "How Courts View Copyright Protection For Video Games" published by Law360, July 2017, "When It Comes to Games, the Practical Limit to U.S. Copyright Protection May Only Be Skin Deep" published in the first issue of the Games Law Industry Journal, May 2017, "Game On: Have an Idea for a Great Video Game?" published by Athletes Quarterly, March 2016, "Copyright Assignment Termination After 35 Years: The Video Game Industry Comes of Age" published by The Lawyer, September 2013, "Evolving Case Law on the Fair Use of Famous Trademarks in Video Games" published by Law360, August 2013, and more.

Mr. Kane is a founding member of the Video Game Bar Association. He is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law, where he recently served as Chair of the Computer Games and Virtual Worlds Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Section of Science & Technology Law, where he served as the founding Chair of the Virtual Worlds and Multiuser Online Games Committee.