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Get ready: Futura Pulse x GDCy is here!
GDCy residents get early access to Futura Pulse: a free custom report, a free strategy call with our lawyers and 10% off ahead of the public launch.
Fintech meetup 2025 in Las Vegas: 60,000+ business meetings, 2,000+ companies, and practical fintech trends
From March 10–13, 2025, Las Vegas hosted one of the world’s key fintech conferences — Fintech Meetup.
Nevada Supreme Court recognizes electronic correspondence as legally binding
The Supreme Court of the State of Nevada has ruled that electronic correspondence between a taxpayer and the Department of Taxation can be considered a written agreement with legal force.
Suhoor and Padel Night with Futura, EY MENA, NVIDIA, and Shorooq Partners
The best ideas often start with a simple “What if...?”—and sometimes, they grow into something much bigger.
Oman’s omanization rate increases in 2024
In 2024, Oman made significant progress in implementing its Omanization program, which aims to increase the share of national talent in various sectors of the economy.
Bill AB 276 proposes linking Nevada’s commerce tax threshold to inflation
A bill introduced in the Nevada State Legislature — AB 276 — proposes raising the commerce tax threshold from the current $4 million and indexing it to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Block on Texas corporate ownership transparency law
A federal judge in Texas has suspended the enforcement of the corporate ownership transparency law, which required companies to disclose information about their beneficial owners.
Senator Ted Cruz secures repeal of federal cryptocurrency regulation
The President of the United States has signed a resolution introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, repealing an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule that required market participants to disclose information about cryptocurrency transactions.
Hong Kong: new initiatives in technology and trade
Hong Kong authorities have announced a series of initiatives to boost promising industries and strengthen the region’s position as an international financial hub.
Vietnam tightens App Store game rules – Apple requires licenses
Apple has reminded game studios that they need a special license to distribute games on the Vietnamese market.
Bill S.B. 29 strengthens corporate governance in Texas
The Texas Senate has approved S.B. 29, a bill aimed at improving corporate governance standards and enhancing the state’s appeal as a business jurisdiction.
Strengthening cooperation between Bahrain and South Korea and the European Union in the field of intellectual property
Bahrain has been actively strengthening international cooperation in the field of intellectual property by signing Memorandums of Understanding with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
Oman and Saudi Arabia sign three new agreements to strengthen economic relations
In 2024, Oman and Saudi Arabia strengthened their economic relations by signing three new agreements covering the following areas: cloud computing, legal services, and jewelry manufacturing.
Golden Gate Ventures announces strategic partnership with Oman investment authority
Golden Gate Ventures, a leading Singapore-based venture capital firm, announced a strategic partnership with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) through its technology investment arm, Innovation Development Oman (IDO).
Dallas emerges as a fintech hub
Dallas has strengthened its position as one of the leading financial technology centers in the United States, with fintech among the fastest-growing segments of the city's startup scene.
Oman updates national AI policy
Oman plans to introduce an updated national artificial intelligence (AI) policy in the first quarter of 2025, which will serve as the framework for the development and regulation of AI technologies in the country.
Qatar and India entered into memorandums of understanding to establish a strategic partnership
In February 2025, India and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in various areas, including energy, start-up ecosystems, fintech, technology and artificial intelligence.
New 6-month work permit for expats in Bahrain
Bahrain has introduced a new 6‑month work permit for expats already residing in the country and working in the commercial sector.
DMCA and User-Generated Content: Nintendo vs. Garry's Mod
Nintendo pushed Garry's Mod to purge two decades of fan content, then hit Switch emulators on GitHub with mass DMCA takedowns in 2026. What UGC platforms need in their ToU to actually qualify for safe harbor.
Central Bank of Bahrain develops rules for issuing stablecoins
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has begun developing regulatory rules for the issuance of stablecoins - cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of traditional assets such as national currencies.
Legal Consultations from Futura at the White Nights Conference
White Nights in Abu Dhabi in 2024 was a blast – one of the biggest international events in the gaming industry, buzzing with energy, big ideas, and game-changing connections!
Beyond Borders: How Gaming is Expanding in the GCC
The GCC gaming market is booming, and it’s more than just numbers—it’s a movement.
In the United States, copyright was granted to an image created using AI tools
On 30 January 2025 the US Copyright Office registered 'A Single Piece of American Cheese' — the first image containing substantial AI-generated material to be accepted onto the register. Protection covers only the human contribution: the selection, coordination and arrangement of the AI-generated material, while the machine-generated expression is excluded from the claim.
Tax Incentives for IT and Game Development Businesses
A rundown of the main corporate tax incentives -- IP-box regimes, free-zone rates, R&D credits -- available to IT and game development companies, and how the OECD's 15% global minimum tax caps them.
How the EU AI Act Redefines AI for the Game Industry
How the EU AI Act's risk-based rules, transparency duties, and new bans on nudifiers and deepfake generation apply to game studios building AI-powered features.
Nintendo and Pokémon Sue Over “Pokémon With Guns” Game — What You Need to Know
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are suing Palworld developer Pocketpair over three Japanese gameplay-mechanic patents, not copyright. Here's what the case covers and what changed by mid-2026.
Tackling Game Clones: A Modern Industry Guide
How studios push back on game clones: DMCA takedowns, unfair-competition suits, and copyright claims explained.
Saudi Arabia’s metaverse market size estimated at $1.5 billion in 2024
The Saudi Arabian metaverse market was valued at approximately $1.5 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach $37.2 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 38.5%.
Oman’s AI investment reaches $155.9 Million in 2024
Oman’s AI investment reached $155.9 million in 2024. The Sultanate is actively attracting foreign companies and experts to share experiences and jointly develop AI technologies.
DMCA in Action: How It Works in 2026
How the Digital Millennium Copyright Act helps game developers remove cloned games, unauthorized copies, and pirated content from the internet without going to court.
New MiCA licenses in the EU
The Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation (MiCA) has applied to crypto-asset service providers in the European Union since 30 December 2024: to operate in the EU, every crypto-asset service provider (CASP) needs a licence.
Hong Kong: record foreign investment in 2024
Hong Kong achieved record levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024. Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) assisted 539 overseas and mainland companies to set up or expand their businesses in the region, an increase of 41% year-on-year.
Saudi Arabia issues 127 regional headquarters licences in Q1 2024, up 477% year-on-year
Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in attracting foreign investment and hosting regional headquarters for international companies in 2024.
New VAT rules for cryptocurrency mining in the UAE
On January 14, 2025, the UAE Tax Authority issued a clarification on the application of VAT to cryptocurrency mining.
The European Commission has been fined for the first time for violating the GDPR
The European Commission has agreed to pay a fine of 400 euros to a German citizen following an investigation by the German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).
Hong Kong introduces corporate redomiciliation
On 20 December 2024, the Hong Kong Government published a Bill to amend the Companies Ordinance to introduce a mechanism for redomiciliation.
Central Bank of Oman approves open banking regulatory framework
The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has approved a regulatory framework for open banking, joining a number of global central banks adopting the innovation.
The UK and Qatar have launched a project to expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence
The UK and Qatar have announced the establishment of a joint research group on artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative aims to develop a roadmap for collaboration between the two countries on AI that will deliver mutual benefits.
Futura at WN C-level Summit Abu Dhabi: conversations under the stars that stay with you
This year, WN C-level Summit was held in Abu Dhabi for the first time — and it felt instantly special.
Singapore MAS Crypto Exchange License: Step-by-Step Process
A step-by-step look at Singapore's Payment Services Act framework and the process of getting a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) license for a crypto exchange.
Alexandra Kurdyumova Moderates MENA Gaming Ecosystem Panel at HIT Games Conference
On November 22, we participated in a special panel at HIT Games Conference in Abu Dhabi, bringing together key voices from across the gaming industry to talk about one of the most exciting markets today — the MENA region
Set up in the UAE — What’s next? Futura Workshop at HIT Games Conference
At the end of November, the Futura team headed to Abu Dhabi for HIT Games Conference 2024 — a vibrant gathering that brought together people who live and breathe games and technology.
Futura at the UAE Creative Industries Session in Dubai
On November 15, Futura took part in the session “Collaboration in Creative Industries: Opportunities in Animation and Video Games”, held as part of the World of Opportunities International Business Forum at The Ritz-Carlton.
A heartfelt thank you to Shorooq Partners for inviting us to the Gitex Social Event!
Fresh off the incredible experience at GITEX (the largest tech conference that took place in Dubai) we were truly honored to be invited to the beautiful GITEX Social event hosted by our friends at Shorooq Partners.
Futura Advice Pitstop at the White Nights in Cyprus
This September, our Futura team traveled to Cyprus to bring back one of our favorite traditions — Futura Advice Pitstop.
Futura at White Nights in Istanbul: Gamedev Leaders, Warm Connections, and Futura Advice Pitstop
The Futura team recently returned from Istanbul, where we attended the White Nights conference—an event known for gathering gamedev industry leaders and talented developers from around the globe.
Futura Talks: You opened a company in the UAE. What’s next?
On May 9, we met again at AD Gaming in Abu Dhabi — this time to talk about what happens after the company is launched.
Alexandra Kurdyumova at Dubai Game Expo Summit: How the MENA Region is Becoming a New Player on the Global Stage
Futura’s co-founder Alexandra Kurdyumova took part in the Dubai Game Expo Summit as a speaker in the panel discussion "MENA’s Rising Star: How can the Region Compete on the Global Stage?".
Futura at Dubai Game Expo Summit: Talking Games, Solving Cases, and Hosting our Advice Pitstop
The Futura team recently attended the Dubai Game Expo Summit—one of the most vibrant events in the gaming industry.
Futura at LEAP Conference in Riyadh: Innovation, Discovery, and Impressive Scale
Futura’s journey of inspiration and innovation continues!
Futura at Web Summit in Qatar: Inspiration, Scale, and New Horizons
The Futura team attended one of the year’s most remarkable events—the large-scale Web Summit conference in Qatar.
Alexandra Kurdyumova Speaks on GCC Gaming Business Growth at White Nights
On the first day of the White Nights conference in Abu Dhabi, Alexandra Kurdyumova spoke at a panel discussion about growing a gaming business in the GCC region.
Futura Advice Pitstop at the WN Conference in Abu Dhabi
In February, we had the pleasure of being part of the White Nights conference in Abu Dhabi, supported by AD Gaming.
Futura x InMobi x UGC Ninja: How Data Privacy Rules Shape Game Publishing and Marketing
A joint session with InMobi and UGC Ninja on how data privacy rules shape mobile game publishing and marketing.
Futura Talks: Taxation in the UAE
A Futura Talks session on the tax issues that matter most to creative businesses in the UAE — foreign tax credit, IP Box, and more, explained in plain language.
Futura — Official Partner of AD Gaming in Abu Dhabi and Futura Talks Series
Futura becomes an official partner of AD Gaming in Abu Dhabi and launches the Futura Talks series, making legal topics accessible for digital business and game development.
Futura Team at the White Nights Conference in Cyprus
Futura at White Nights in Cyprus — launching the Futura Advice Pitstop pro bono initiative with Brightika Publishers and offering free legal consultations to game studios.
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