The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced a partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialised United Nations agency.
As a result of the partnership, the two parties will collaborate to develop mechanisms to resolve disputes that arise within the esports and gaming industries.
According to a release, ESIC and WIPO will collaborate to ‘enhance alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms’ for esports and gaming. WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center will work alongside the Commission to resolve disputes ‘with expertise and fairness.’
In addition to improving the resolution process, ESIC and WIPO will launch a range of activities to raise awareness of resolutions and provide training to people who will act as ‘neutral resolution experts’ to solve any disputes that arise. Both parties will also aim to improve the efficiency of disputes to minimise delays when disputes are taking place.
Founded in 2016, ESIC has become a staple of the esports industry in its bid to reduce corruption within its various verticals. In November 2023, the Commission named fantasy sports platform PrizePicks as its latest anti-corruption partner. In recent years, ESIC has issued bans for any breaches of its integrity policies. September 2023, for example, saw former GODSENT player Joel ‘Joel’ Holmlund suspended for betting on matches he played in.
The deal marks WIPO’s first foray into the esports industry. The organisation specialises in intellectual property knowledge ranging from information on international patents to resolving issues on domain name disputes.
Stephen Hanna, CEO of ESIC, spoke on the partnership: “This collaboration with WIPO marks the start of an unprecedented programme 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.”
