Call of Duty Players Suit Is First to Test Esports’ Market Power

A novel lawsuit accusing Activision Blizzard Inc. of unlawfully wielding its monopoly over its Call of Duty video game calls into question the legal power of publishers over those playing their games.

The outcome of the dispute could hand more power to players and teams seeking to profit off the esports industry that boomed during the pandemic and is projected to reach $4.3 billion this year. It also shines a spotlight on the interaction between competition law and the Copyright Act, which provides companies like Activision, now owned by Microsoft Corp., with protection for original works.

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