World Intellectual Property Organization and Esports Integrity Commission Announce Groundbreaking Collaboration

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, and the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) are thrilled to announce a landmark collaboration aimed at enhancing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms within the global esports and video games industries. This partnership symbolizes a pioneering step towards providing the necessary, fit-for-purpose infrastructure suited to addressing and mitigating disputes in these rapidly growing industries.

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, renowned for its leadership in intellectual property (IP) dispute resolution, will work alongside ESIC, the standard-bearer for integrity in esports, to enhance and implement state-of-the-art ADR mechanisms to resolve disputes in video games and esports with expertise and fairness.

The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including joint awareness-raising activities, identifying and training specialized neutral dispute resolution experts for video games and esports disputes, and more. Both organizations will share their knowledge and expertise in their respective fields to support and guide the collaboration with the aim of optimizing the efficiency and just resolution of esports and video games disputes.

“At WIPO, we recognize the growing importance of ADR mechanisms in emerging sectors like videogames and esports. Our collaboration with ESIC signifies a commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure for fair and efficient dispute resolution within the video game industry and esports community”, said Mr. Marco M. Alemán, Assistant Director General, who is leading the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector at WIPO.

Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, added, “This collaboration with WIPO marks the start of an unprecedented program of work for the global esports and video games industries. We are looking forward to collaborating to build new standards for integrity, dispute resolution, and IP protection in esports and video games. This initiative is a monumental step forward, reflective of our commitment to innovation and the long-term health of the global ecosystem.”

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is a global organization dedicated to maintaining the integrity of esports. By addressing issues such as cheating, match-fixing, and doping, ESIC works to ensure fair play and integrity across all esports competitions. It collaborates with game developers, tournament organizers, and other stakeholders to establish unified standards for competition integrity, fostering a safe and equitable environment for all participants in the global video games and esports ecosystem.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) serves as the global forum for IP services, policy, information, and cooperation. It operates as a self-funding agency of the United Nations, boasting 193 member states. Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center offers ADR options, such as mediation and arbitration, to enable private parties to efficiently settle their domestic or cross-border commercial disputes. The WIPO Center is international and specialized in IP and technology disputes.

Esports Integrity Commission: press@esic.gg
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center: arbiter.mail@wipo.int