A popular professional e-sports athlete is suing his organization over contract disagreements. Are the accusations fair? What does the lawsuit reveal about the current state of esports legalities? And lastly, what should players consider before signing with multi-channel networks, gaming collectives, and teams? Let’s dive in.
Tfue v. Faze Clan: Contract Collision
The Plaintiff: Fortnite phenom Turner “Tfue” Tenney
The Defendant: FaZe Clan, Tfue’s esports organization, which operates as a competitive e-sports team and multi-channel promotional network.
Jurisdiction: California Superior Court (State Court)
Team Tenney’s Overall Accusation: The contract that Tfue signed is “grossly oppressive, onerous, and one-sided” and therefore illegal.
FaZe Clan’s Social Media Defense: The contract is being mischaracterized because the collective hasn’t siphoned an unreasonable amount of money from Tfue.
Tfue’s Legal Arguments
According to the suit, Tenney believes his FaZe Clan contract was draconian and exploitative because the agreement:
- Prevented Tenney from leveraging certain business opportunities; and
- Allocated 80 percent of Tenney’s earnings for specific revenue streams;
Tfue’s claim also alleges that FaZe Clan:
- Shirked California’s Talent Agency Act by not obtaining the proper licensing; and
- Encouraged an underage Tenney to drink alcohol and gamble.
Excerpt from Tfue’s Lawsuit:
“Until now, FaZe Clan has enjoyed the fruits of this illegal business model with impunity because no one could or was willing to stand up to Faze Clan. Those days are over. Through this action, Tenney seeks to shift the balance of power to the gamers and content creators/streamers, those who are actually creating value and driving the industry. As a result of this action, others will hopefully take notice of what is going on and help to clean up esports.”
FaZe Clan’s Response
For its part, FaZe Clan insists it hasn’t acted rapaciously. In a social media post, Richard “Banks” Bengston, one of the organization’s popular players and Tfue’s recruiter, lamented his “shock and disappointment.” He also explained:
“We have only collected a total of $60,000 from our partnership, while Tfue has earned millions as a member of FaZe Clan. While contracts are different with each player, all of them — including Tfue’s — have a maximum of 20 percent to FaZe Clan in both tournament winnings as well as content revenue, with 80% to the player. In Turner’s case, neither of those have been collected by FaZe Clan.”
At this point, competing narratives make it difficult to understand the full scope of the contract and whose understanding of its contents is the most accurate. But it’s something we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on over the course of this case.
Current State of the Esports Legal Arena
Tfue’s lawsuit has electrified the esports world. Everyone is talking about it, even mainstream outlets.
Legally speaking, the esports world is at a crossroads. It’s teetering between fringe and conventional sport. People are still figuring out how to establish a profitable, sustainable esports industry, and few regulations govern the space as of yet.
Some argue that lack of oversight has made room for a cesspool of greedy con-men who take advantage of the talent. But is the accusation fair?
What are Multi-Channel Networks in the Esports World?
Multi-channel networks (MCNs) are, in laymen’s terms, marketing collectives — gaming co-ops, if you will. A bunch of players are brought under one umbrella to maximize their exposure and thereby promotional clout. MCNs cross-promote their players and sell club apparel. To state it differently, MCNs could be described as administrative and marketing middle men. Although e-sports players join “teams” and e-sports organizations, these organizations are, in many cases, MCNs. As such, competition wins and social media popularity are often equally important.
In the Tfue v. FaZe Clan lawsuit, Tfue’s attorneys argue that Faze Clan, a professional e-sports organization, behaves like a talent agency that should abide by those rules. If the court agrees, the esports industry should brace for impact since a substantial chunk of the market is organized into teams and organizations that in many ways function like MCNs.
Five Essential Things to Consider Before Signing on with an MCN
Multi-channel networks can do wonders for an esports athlete’s career. But before signing on the dotted line, it’s essential to understand the contract’s legalities. If you’re not thorough, you could wind up losing everything — just ask Anthony Padilla, a gamer who built up a following of 20 million and then was forced to hand over his channel for free. When asked about the incident, Padilla explained: “We didn’t understand. I don’t know if we were purposefully taken advantage of, but we were taken advantage of, and that’s my bad.”
What should professional esports players consider when negotiating contracts with MCNs and teams?
- Percentages: Esports players can tap into several revenue streams including streaming media and sponsorships. Most contracts address these in detail. Make sure that you’re getting your fair share. If something seems unbalances, consult an esports lawyer who can walk you through the process, explain industry standards, and advocate on your behalf.
- Flexibility: If you want to retain as much independence as possible, carefully review contracts for employment and sponsorship restrictions. Does the team or MCN have final control over what opportunities you can and cannot take? What about apparel? Tournaments? Read the fine print!
- Intellectual Property: Does the contract allow you to develop your brand outside of the team or network? Would they own you logos, taglines, content? Again, read the fine print!
- Restrictions: Does the agreement stipulate a non-compete period? Does the contract allow you to participate in events outside of the group? Make sure you iron these details out before entering into a contract.
- Exit: No one likes to think about it, but one of the most important parts of the agreement is your options for getting out!
Contact an Esports Lawyer
The Gordon Law Group represents several professional esports athletes. We also work with teams, organizations, and sponsors in the space. Our team handles contract negotiations, labor issues, tax positioning, and more.
Let’s talk to see if we’re a good fit for your needs.
