What do you call 100 lawyers in a classroom learning about video games? A good start.

Anyone interested in a career in the video game industry now has another career option to consider: Gaming Law. This fall the University of La Verne College of Law in California will offer an academic program with an emphasis on computer game law, a field which is growing along with the gaming industry.

The program is overseen by Professor Ashley Lipson, who has a good deal of experience with gaming himself. He's been teaching classes on computer game law since 2002, developed the Objection! software series which simulates courtroom experiences, and is the author, creator, and programmer of SivPro!, the first set of combined computer games and tutorials targeted toward law students. Now Lipson and his colleagues are planning a comprehensive schedule of courses that include "Multimedia Law," "The Law of the Computer Games Industry," and "The Law of Cyberspace." Classes in intellectual property and entertainment law are also included.

"This is the first generation of students raised on computer games," says Lipson. "And with the explosion of interactive technologies impacting just about every facet of life today, these courses have tremendous relevancy for today's law students."

"Computer Game Law," the first academic casebook on the subject, will be available exclusively to University of La Verne law students. The textbook will cover a broad range of legal topics relating to the game industry, including acquisition of game rights and ideas, intellectual property rights and licenses (copyrights, patents, trademarks, etc.), marketing and distribution, industry and content regulation (adult content, violence), and property rights in virtual worlds.

With video game-related legislation popping up all over the country, individuals well-versed in the area of game law will become more of a necessity for the industry. The University of La Verne seems to be leading the charge into this uncharted territory.

News Source: http://xbox.ign.com