ROSS HERSEMANN
Founder | Loading Law
Ross A. Hersemann is the Founder of Loading Law, a Chicago-based law practice, and provides legal counsel to video game developers and creative professionals. He is an Adjunct Professor of Video Game Law at DePaul University and speaks frequently on hot topics in law and technology. Ross also serves as the Chair of IGDA Chicago, Engineer of Junction Jam, and as General Counsel to the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA).
GDEX 2026 Presentation: We All Have Our Loops… The Legal Nuances of Collective Authorship & Copyright
Virtual worlds and online communities have redefined what it means to collaborate and create content. What happens when a community of anonymous authors creates something together that becomes greater than the sum of its parts? Who owns what? What moral, financial, and legal obligations are there, if any? In this presentation and QA, game industry attorney Ross A. Hersemann will discuss the nuances of the legal ownership of collective creative projects, citing examples from Machinima, Creepypasta, & Fan Works.
GDEX 2026 Presentation: I Object! Legal Issues & The Court of Public Opinion in 2026
2026 has been a year of hot debate in the ever-evolving field of video game law. The court of public opinion has been very busy evaluating the newest cases and controversies including: The Stop Killing Games Movement, The Death of Physical Media, Industry Layoffs & Unionization Efforts, and of course, AI use generally. • In this presentation and QA, game industry attorney Ross A. Hersemann will discuss the latest legal issues affecting game industry creators and consumers in 2026.
