Alumnus Sean Thordsen (’09) knows video games–really, really well. But his knowledge goes far beyond leisurely play. During his final year of law school at Chapman, he conducted a study on advances in IT law in the video game industry. Under the guidance of Professor Kathy Heller with whom he participated in
Chapman’s Entertainment Contracts Law Clinic
, he presented his final project on the video game
Second Life
in Professor Heller’s Entertainment Law Course and introduced the intriguing concept of tangible property rights in a digital world.

Sean says the video game project and the clinic provided him with valuable skills that he has since employed in his current law practice. “The experience was worthwhile because it provided me with actual practice, and not just theory. I learned how to interact with clients and that, in turn, actually helped to expand my knowledge of both law and business,” says Sean. Today, he regularly assists clients in assisting start-ups in the video game industry, obtaining copyrights and trademarks and successfully defends those accused of violating them in federal court.

Sean has built quite a name for himself through his specialization and experience within the video game industry. In 2012, he was chosen to speak on a panel at SMU ‘s “
Games, Business and Law Legal Summit
” regarding tax incentives for video game developers. This prestigious summit brought together prominent video game developers, leading lawyers, government agencies and corporations to talk about important changes in technology and the law. In addition to this accomplishment, Sean is also the first and only legal writer to ever appear on The
Anime News Network
, the largest source of anime news and information in America as well as a board member of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.

thordsen


Sean Thordsen (’09)



“The most valuable thing I did for my career was to attend conferences,” says Sean. From video game conferences to copyright round table discussions, Sean’s expertise and networking ability has made it possible for him to exchange information with potential clients. “Attending industry specific events will help get your name out there and build your resume, neither of which will hurt you,” Sean added.

Networking is a great skill, but keeping up with the latest court cases is essential. As online content becomes easier to share and remix, Sean says his work will continue to change. When he is not protecting his clients from copyright infringement claims, Sean says he would like to continue to teach the true meaning of fair use and consumer rights and strive to be a voice of reason in a rapidly changing digital frontier.

Since his graduation in 2009, Chapman Law has seen a continued growth in intellectual property and gaming law courses. In fall 2013, noted Silicon Valley patent lawyer Sam Ernst will join the Chapman Law faculty to teach Patent Law and related intellectual property subjects. Also teaching in fall 2013 will be Eric Roeder, general counsel of Blizzard Entertainment, producer of the World of Warcraft series of video games. Mr. Ernst will teach a special course on Gaming Law.