The keynote focused on Games and Esports Arbitration. As the video games and esports industry rapidly expands, so does the potential for disputes—ranging from intellectual property (IP) issues to complex commercial disagreements. In his keynote on 7 February 2025, Leandro Toscano of the World Intellectual Prioperty Organisation highlighted how Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation, and expert determination offer effective tools to address these challenges.
Given the international nature of esports, ADR’s flexibility, neutrality, and cross-border enforceability make it especially valuable. Disputes over sponsorships, media rights, licensing, and copyright infringement benefit from processes that are faster, confidential, and customizable. ADR allows parties to select decision-makers with expertise in both law and the gaming industry, ensuring informed outcomes.
The keynote offered practical insights for stakeholders navigating disputes in this fast-paced sector. Toscano, who leads the Digital Content Disputes Section at WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center, drew on his extensive experience in IP and IT law to illustrate how ADR can help maintain a fair, efficient, and industry-sensitive approach to conflict resolution.
Leandro Toscano is the head of the Business Development and Digital Content Disputes Section at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center in Geneva, Switzerland.
