French government passes laws to protect esports athletes

The French government has passed legislation which will regulate professional esports player contracts within the country.

The law should ensure some stability and protection for French esports athletes as the law limits all player contracts to a five-year maximum and 12-month minimum term. There are exceptions available for substitutions and suspensions.

Additionally, players under the age of 12 cannot compete in any monetised tournaments.

This is the first time an esports specific law has been passed in the western world, although South Korea has its own agency to regulate professional esports, KeSPA.

KeSPA was founded in 2000, approved by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Their mission statement was to “make esports an official sporting event, and to solidify the commercial position of esports in all sectors.”

This sort of unionisation is viewed as important, problems with player contracts have been a staple of esports relatively short history. Time will tell if other countries will soon follow suit on providing legislative support to growing the growing number of athletes taking part in esports around the world.