Ryan Fairchild, an attorney with Brooks Pierce, was quoted in an article on ESPN.com about player contracts with the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). Among other things, the contract requires players to cover all of their costs, repay ESFI for any loss ESFI suffers due to the players not being able to play (even if it is not the fault of the player), and sign a non-disparagement clause, prohibiting them from making any negative statements about the ESFI.
Fairchild, whose practice includes helping American esports players negotiate contracts and sponsorship agreements, spoke about how one sided the contract is. “The fact that players have to bear all the risks and the costs, even for circumstances that could be out of their control, is the most egregious aspect,” Fairchild said. “Something that strikes me about this contract in particular is that it essentially filters out the players who can't afford the expenses of travel or otherwise, particularly if under 18.”
The ESPN article also talks about the growing popularity of esports, with many in the industry expecting the Asian Games, which are being held in August, to help pave the way for inclusion in the Olympics.
The full article is available here.
