From the 'Pizza Attack' Battle to Brand Strategies: Legal Insights in Gaming with Don McGowan

Описание: Join us as we sit down with Don McGowan, former General Counsel at Bungie. If you're in the game industry, you've likely heard about Bungie's groundbreaking lawsuit protecting employees from online threats, aka the "Pizza Attack." Don McGowan orchestrated the whole process and is here to share the behind-the-scenes details in full.

Don's career in the entertainment industry also included stops at The Pokémon Company International and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, where he launched some of the biggest IPs in gaming. Tune in as we dive into the legal side of the gaming industry, discussing topics like Employee Safety and Employer Obligations, Brand IP and M&A Strategies, AI and Copyright Issues, the Epic Games vs Apple Antitrust Lawsuit, and more.


🎧 Chapters / Show Notes:

00:00 Intro
00:56 Meet Don McGowan, Former General Counsel of Bungie
05:30 Fostering Inclusion Clubs at Bungie and Pokémon
06:47 How Game Studios Can Protect Their Employees
12:35 The "Pizza Attack": Don's Direct Involvement in Protecting Employees
19:15 Legal Insights on Employee Safety and Employer Obligation
20:58 Don's 🐾: Biscuits and Gravy
23:00 Brand Revival Strategies (IPs and M&A)
41:30 AI and Games
47:24 Epic vs Apple Antitrust Lawsuit
51:27 Resources: Connect with Don
54:16 Outro


Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Here’s Waldo Recruiting - https://www.hereswaldorecruiting.com/
• Lizzie Mintus on LinkedIn -   / hereswaldo  
• Don McGowan on LinkedIn -   / don-mcgowan-92496b187  
• Bungie - https://www.bungie.net/7
• The Pokemon Company International - https://corporate.pokemon.com/en-us/
• Kamerman, Uncyk, Soniker, and Klein Law - https://www.kusklaw.com/
• Adams County Pet Rescue - https://adamscountypetrescue.com/


Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Here’s Waldo Recruiting, a boutique recruitment firm specializing in the video game industry that prioritizes quality over quantity and values transparency, communication, and diversity. We partner with companies, creatives, and programmers to understand the why behind their needs and provide a white-glove experience that ensures a win-win outcome.

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