valve agreement with in game advertiser?

[nvrmor]

VALVE AND IGA WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCE IN-GAME ADVERTISEMENT RESOLUTION
Bellevue, WA and New York, NY - February 16, 2006 - Valve® Corporation, a leading content and technology developer, and IGA Worldwide Inc., a leading in-game advertising firm, today announced an amicable resolution of differences regarding in-game advertising in Counter-StrikeTM, the number 1 online action game in the world. This amicable resolution also absolves IGA's advertisers and IGA's advertising agencies from any liability.

Advertising in games (also known as "in-game advertising") represents one of the fastest growing segments of the gaming and advertising industries.

Last year, IGA arranged for the placement of advertising in Counter-Strike for certain advertisers and their agencies. Like all commercial advertisements, ads in games such as Counter-Strike require permission from the intellectual property (IP) owner. IGA has always sought to honor the intellectual property rights of the owners of games in which its advertising is inserted. IGA takes its responsibility to obtain such permission very seriously.

Valve and IGA have announced that they are pleased to have reached a swift and professional resolution of any issues that may have existed between them, IGA's advertisers and IGA's advertising agencies. Valve and IGA look forward to discussing mutually beneficial opportunities in the future.

About Valve
Based in Bellevue, Washington, Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996. Valve's debut title, Half-Life®, has won over 50 Game of the Year Awards and named "Best PC Game Ever" in the November 1999, October 2001, and April 2005 issues of PC Gamer, the world's best-selling PC games magazine. Valve's portfolio of entertainment titles also includes Counter-Strike, Day of DefeatTM, and Team Fortress® and accounts for over 20 million retail units sold worldwide, and over 88% of the PC online action market.

About IGA Worldwide Inc.
IGA Worldwide Inc. is the global leader in unique 360-degree in-game advertising solutions, helping brands to understand and exploit the rich and diverse opportunities available now and in the future. Its proprietary ad serving network, Radial, enables advertisers to target millions of engaged consumers across a wide range of platforms and genres while they play.

It also provides strategic consulting services including integrated product placement and co-promotion through its wholly-owned communications consultancy, Hive Partners. Headquartered in New York with offices in London and Berlin, the group is backed by Easton Capital Group, Morgenthaler Ventures and DN Capital.

doesnt really say what the resolution is. i find it strange they send out a press release like this, for a relatively simple legal matter, but dont put out a press release about the name change of a hl product.

 

[Cole]

This says nothing about an agreement to force advertisments so no worries.

It's just announcing that Valve and IGA have resolved any issues dealing with IGA pushing advertising on CS.

In other words if a server wants to they can have advertising through CS through IGA with no IP issues.

 

[nvrmor]

to resolve something both parties have to agree.

 

[Cole]

to resolve something both parties have to agree.

Yeah, IGA wanted to push In-Game Advertisments but don't want to infringe on IP.
Valve and IGA came to a swift and professional resolution about IGA ability to advertise in Counter-Strike.

 

[ríomhaire]

So how are ads showing up?
Walmart *pistol* Doombringer666
Or posters in the maps or something?

 

[nagual7]

I don't understand how one should "not worry". How can the following mean anything else than "there is going to be valve-supported in-game advertising" ?

Valve and IGA look forward to discussing mutually beneficial opportunities in the future.