Donna M Bruschi

In this week’s Video Games Industry Memo Tom Regan writes: "As the nephew of ZX Spectrum creator Sir Clive Sinclair, Grant’s GamerCard offers a disruptive take on handhelds — a giftcard-sized console, no packaging, ready to play." Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/exMZBkwG #gamercard #grantsinclair #RaspberryPiGaming #zxspectrum #retrogaming #pocketgaming #Sinclair #handheldgaming #GamingTech #newtech #indiegames #PortableGaming #pico8

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What’s one way to know your prediction hits the mark? When @faultline’s @ Tommy Flanagan writes “we wholeheartedly agree.”   In his latest issue, Tommy ponders an important question about the growth of short-form content: will its adoption go behind tier-1 broadcasters to niches streamers? I’d argue AI-driven shorts are a necessity for niche and tier-1s alike who want to compete (and win) against the creator economy. The reality is, viewers need more reasons to stay engaged within broadcasters’ ecosystems. AI-driven shorts give them the velocity and intelligence needed to break viewers’ habits of scrolling through their TikTok feed, and instead staying within their O&O platforms.   Simply put, the conversation has moved beyond how to participate in the creator economy to where that economy lives. In 2026, the streaming wars will pivot from a battle over library depth to a fight for the discovery funnel.    What do you think?

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ICYMI, here's a rundown of this week's interviews across Mojo Nation and Brands Untapped... Mojo Nation: - David Winter, VP of BlueJ and Games at Jazwares, LLC, on launching the company’s new games division (https://lnkd.in/eAwdV72X) - Game designer Elizabeth Hargrave talks us through the origins of her new Hasbro title, Sanibel (https://lnkd.in/euT8HkAN) – Jonathan Cathey, CEO and Founder of THE LOYAL SUBJECTS, talks authenticity, nostalgia and new launches (https://lnkd.in/e8-9CxFr) - Jennifer Ford, Sr. Product Manager at MAGNA-TILES®, reveals what’s next for microMAGS (https://lnkd.in/er42XqDE) Brands Untapped: - Isabelle Giggins, Chief Licensing Officer at DeAgostini Collectibles, teases new Fanhome deals (https://lnkd.in/e5HY75bd) - Designer and illustrator Emma Lawrence on expanding her brand into candles, cards, gardening tools and more (https://lnkd.in/eKc-Bb28) - Independent creative Danny Heffer talks wellness, kawaii domination and sausage rolls as he reflects on recent trade fairs (https://lnkd.in/ejdxgdCF) - Amer Bitar, CEO of BBM Licensing, reveals how Licensing Horizons helps brands scale in the Middle East (https://lnkd.in/eUPhTXMR)

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Palworld's ongoing development continues to intersect with IP enforcement. As with many areas of this industry, it's crucial for game developers to stay up-to-date on the evolving legal landscape of gaming. Read more on the future of Palworld in a recent GamesIndustry.Biz piece (linked in comments), which includes a nod to my 2024 article that discussed the company’s ongoing legal dispute with Nintendo in more detail here: https://lnkd.in/g-ZdRWkv #GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #Palworld #Pokemon #Patents #GamingPatents

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SDNY Bench Ruling Flags Privilege Risks for AI-Created Materials A clear reminder that privilege and work product protections depend on counsel-led process and confidentiality controls, not the mere use of AI or labels applied after the fact. On February 10, 2026, in U.S. v. Heppner (S.D.N.Y. 1:25-cr-00503), Judge Jed S. Rakoff addressed from the bench at a pretrial conference whether a criminal defendant could withhold 30+ AI-assisted documents that were later shared with counsel. The court indicated it was not persuaded that attorney-client privilege applied and expressed skepticism that the materials qualified as protected work product on the present record. The discussion focused on foundational points such as who actually created the documents, whether they reflected counsel’s legal strategy, and the significance of using a tool whose terms state that user inputs are not confidential. A notable point for trial practice also emerged. The court noted that if the government sought to use these AI materials at trial, testimony from counsel regarding authorship or process could raise witness advocate concerns and complicate proceedings. Practical takeaways for legal and compliance teams: • Privilege is a workflow outcome, not a label. Forwarding a document to counsel does not automatically make it privileged. • Work-product protection remains fact-dependent. Protection still turns on the purpose, content, and the actual involvement of counsel on the specific facts of the case. • Platform terms and configurations matter. Non-confidentiality provisions can become a litigation fact. Enterprise deployments with data isolation and appropriate vendor obligations may materially change the confidentiality and disclosure risk profile. • Plan for downstream trial risk. Witness advocate concerns can arise if testimony from counsel about the creation or authenticity of the AI output becomes material to the case. Bottom line: This was an SDNY criminal matter applying federal privilege law. Where generative AI is used in connection with litigation or investigations, involve counsel early, document the legal purpose, and utilize enterprise configurations designed to preserve confidentiality. For general information only. Not legal advice. Views are my own. #AttorneyClientPrivilege #WorkProduct #Discovery #Litigation #GenerativeAI #LegalOps #Compliance #InfoGovernance https://lnkd.in/g_6VTj8H

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Mass retailers are leaning into hobby gaming in Asia too – just with very local flavours. In China, fashion and lifestyle chains like 三福 (Sanfu) are carving out space for TCG products and accessories alongside their fashion offerings. In Japan, BOOKOFF and big-box retailers such as Bic Camera are becoming everyday stops for both new sets and singles. In Hong Kong, YATA (一田百貨) in Tsuen Wan is using Pokémon TCG pop‑ups and multi-language product drops to turn a department store into a destination for players. Mass is clearly leaning in; the big question is how well these formats can plug into existing player communities rather than treating TCG as just another shelf category. What are you seeing in your market? #TCG #TabletopGaming

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Toy Companies Press Play on Gaming! https://lnkd.in/gtvJvDe8 Given the current tariff situation and general tectonic shifts transpiring in across the industry, I found this article from Licensing International very interesting. Major toy makers—including Mattel, Inc.—are pressing play on gaming, moving beyond traditional licensing and into internal development of video and mobile games. For instance, Mattel, Inc. is reactivating its self-publishing arm (with a first product slated for release in 2026), signaling a major shift toward autonomy around its IP and creative output. This trend raises some thought-provoking considerations: Creative Control vs. Speed to Market: Owning the development pipeline offers unparalleled creative freedom but at what cost? Will in‑house development deliver ROI, or slow things down compared to the traditional model of outsourcing? Hybrid Models: Many brands are choosing a mix—combining self-publishing with outbound licensing. This diversified approach could balance innovation with efficiency. Broader Industry Momentum: These days, toy companies are increasingly treating themselves as full-service entertainment brands, moving further into gaming, digital platforms, and broader content creation (films, live shows, etc.). A key question for the industry: Can the significant investment in internal game development really pay off, especially when weighed against the tried-and-tested, faster path of licensed partnerships? Only time will tell. It will be fun to see this story play out! 🎮 📺 💰 #ToyIndustry #Gaming #Innovation #Digital

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BOSONIC Founder & CEO, Rosario Ingargiola commented... Prohibiting shared order books (aggregation of exchanges and other venues into a single order book for your clients) is bad for the firms (hard to manage) and bad for the clients (lower liquidity, wider spreads, etc.). The ONLY rationale that makes any sense whatsoever is what Dea Markova rightly said here about how crypto firms access those external order books in terms of counterparty credit and settlement risk: “I think regulators are worried that a broker in Austria, for example, might want to source liquidity from an American or a South Korean exchange and usually have to pre-fund that exchange with some of its clients’ assets,” Markova said in an interview. “So if something happens to that exchange, then those client assets will be lost.” Off Exchange Settlement Solutions can help solve for this, but not all OES systems are created equal. Usually, the crypto firm has to pre-allocate capital to the exchange whose liquidity they want access to and they must do this for each exchange (not capital efficient, and no netting across exchanges), and settlement is still bilateral with the exchange going second (you take the risk). Bosonic's OES solution eliminates these issues with no pre-allocation to each exchange, real-time netting across all exchange activity (Buy BTC on Exchange-1 and Sell BTC on Exchange-2 and you are net flat) and settlement is atomic Payment vs. Payment (like CLS). https://lnkd.in/eB_PNTv6

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Adults are buying more toys than kids. In 2023, adults made up 58% of all toy purchases in the U.S. That’s over $38 billion spent — not by children, but by people with jobs, trauma, and Amazon Prime. For the first time in history, adults are spending more on toys than kids. The NY Post says it’s because kids don’t care anymore - they’d rather poke at a hamster on an iPad than build a LEGO castle. That’s… part of it. But there’s something deeper going on. This isn’t about toys. It’s about coping mechanisms disguised as hobbies. Zoomers and Millennials aren’t buying property. They’re buying Pokémon collectibles, rare LEGO, and $300 anime statues. Because: - The world’s unstable - Starting a family feels out of reach - And dopamine doesn’t generate itself So we self-soothe - with nostalgia, packaging, and the thrill of “just one more drop.” And the brands that get it? They’re not selling “toys.” They’re selling totems. - LEGO's “Adults Welcome” line includes $850 Titanic kits - Hasbro’s Black Series helmets regularly hit $500+ - Pokémon, Funko, Hot Toys — multi-billion-dollar ecosystems powered by story, scarcity, and identity That’s transmedia. That’s IP that means something. And that’s why most merch fails - it’s soulless. If you’re building a game, show, or universe, here’s the play: Build a world so real they want a piece of it on their desk. The audience grew up. Their love for worlds didn’t.

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The music industry just got its most powerful weapon against AI piracy. SoundPatrol launched an AI-enabled anti-piracy research lab that's already partnering with Universal Music Group and Sony Music. Here's what makes this groundbreaking: → Neural fingerprinting technology that can detect AI-generated copyright infringement → Patent-pending methods using neural embeddings to identify stolen music → First-of-its-kind protection specifically designed for the AI music generation era → Backed by the two largest music companies in the world The timing couldn't be more critical. With AI music generators flooding the market, artists have been losing millions to unauthorized use of their work. Traditional copyright detection methods weren't built for AI-generated content. SoundPatrol's neural fingerprinting changes that completely. It can identify when AI systems have been trained on copyrighted music, even when the output sounds different from the original. This isn't just about protecting revenue. It's about preserving artistic integrity in an age where AI can replicate any style, voice, or composition. For artists, this means their creative work finally has real protection against AI theft. For the industry, it represents a step change in how we approach copyright in the digital age. The question isn't whether AI will transform music creation. It's whether we can build the right safeguards to protect human creativity while embracing innovation. SoundPatrol's lab might just be the answer we've been waiting for. What's your take on AI-powered copyright protection? Are we finally getting ahead of the technology curve? Source: https://buff.ly/q6jLkhz #AI #MusicIndustry #Copyright #Innovation #ArtistProtection

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