Award-winning video game lawyer and founder of Deviant Legal. After meeting his “Player Two” in World of Warcraft, he left his days as Warlock behind him in favour of single player games. Has consequently been called “Pokémon Master” by fellow lawyers as a pun, but he still believes someone found his collection of Pokémon TCG cards. Advocate for equal chances and more inclusivity in games and the legal profession.
About René
René Otto is considered by many to be one of the leading video game lawyer in Europe.
He acts as a trusted legal advisor for over 300 developers, publishers and esports companies. Considering his unique knowledge on the legal aspects of the video games and esports industry, he is frequently invited to speak on international events and as a guest lecturer at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas).
Because the well-being of the video game industry is close to his heart, René has frequently committed himself to represent the Dutch industry on a national level on topics such as the regulation of loot boxes and the evaluation of the Dutch Copyright Act.
In addition to his legal work, René tries to contribute to the games industry in several other capacities, including as:
René always tries to use his extensive network of contacts to create opportunities for people in the industry.
Inclusion Award
Next Generation Partner
Best Young Talent
Esports Industry Ambassador Award
Global Game Changer
Gamechanger of 2019
René is able to help you with drafting and reviewing all commercial contracts relevant to the games & esports industry. This includes agreements about video game publishing, (development) outsourcing, licensing, EULA’s, investments, sponsorships and all other commercial opportunities.
With his knowledge of intellectual property laws, he is also able to assist you with protecting your game assets and registering the relevant trademarks for your game.
Lastly, René is an expert in Dutch employment laws and can help you navigate the rather complex system of employment regulations in the Netherlands.
Essentially, the rule of thumb is that if it is a legal matter concerning your game or the team that is making it happen, René is the person to go to.
Legal help is around the corner.
We believe that you should be able to discuss your matter before starting a collaboration. This also allows us to tell you what we can do for you and what the associated costs are.
