Meet Your Makers Faces Controversy Over Player Rights in Esports
Meet Your Makers recently found itself in the middle of a player rights debate in the European esports scene. The organization made a triumphant return to the League Championship Series by acquiring the third-place finishers from the previous season, Supa Hot Crew.
In January, trouble started brewing when the team’s mid laner, Marcin “Kori” Wolski, missed the first week of LCS under mysterious circumstances. It was later reported that Wolski had left Europe to join challenger side Roar in North America. However, he returned to Meet Your Makers two weeks later, apologizing for his previous actions.
It was later revealed that Wolski had left due to a dispute over late payments. In a recorded phone conversation obtained by the Daily Dot, the team’s former manager threatened Wolski by saying he would take his mother’s house. Wolski, who was only 17 at the time, had his mother sign the contract with Meet Your Makers on his behalf.
Meet Your Makers faced significant backlash from the League of Legends community following this incident. Riot Games permanently banned the manager from any involvement in the League Championship Series and fined the organization $5,000. Meet Your Makers’ CEO issued a public apology on Facebook, acknowledging the trust that was placed in the managers.
Team Members Express Desire to Leave
After the negative publicity, several members of the team expressed their desire to leave. Wolski is currently considering other options while still honoring his contract. Veteran top-laner Mimer “Mimer” Ahlström has stepped down to take on a coaching role. The team’s star Korean jungler Cho “H0R0” Jae-hwan is also looking to leave as the team continues to struggle with poor performance.
Meet Your Makers has faced difficulties in finding suitable replacements for its departing players.
Player Contracts Raise Legal Concerns
A closer look at Meet Your Makers’ player contracts revealed several legal concerns. The contract appeared to be a combination of marketing and employment agreements, which would not hold up well in court. One German lawyer analyzed the contract and found numerous issues that left players at a disadvantage.
The contract lacked provisions for player safety and welfare, particularly for reserve players who do not receive any compensation. It also raised questions about minimum wage laws and the high percentage of revenue taken by the organization.
To address these concerns, the lawyer proposed splitting the contract into separate marketing and employment agreements. She also recommended ensuring that players receive at least the minimum wage and reducing the penalty fees imposed on players.
With the current state of the contract, both ethically and legally, Meet Your Makers faces significant challenges in maintaining player welfare.