League of Legends Contract Dispute Ends in Legal Battle
The offseason in League of Legends has brought about numerous changes to team rosters, with one player’s future becoming the center of a highly public and potentially litigious battle. Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, a jungler who had been playing for SK Gaming, was the subject of attempted signings by both Team SoloMid and H2k-Gaming. The disagreement between the two teams over the player’s signing ultimately led to legal threats and accusations of bullying.
H2k claimed that an agreement had been reached between Johnsen and their management, making it a legally binding contract. However, TSM disagreed and Johnsen ultimately signed with the North American organization. This dispute has resulted in public statements from H2k CEO Richard Wells and SoloMid founder Andy “Reginald” Dinh, further fueling the controversy.
According to Dinh, TSM offered Johnsen a tryout before H2k made an offer. TSM also offered to pay H2k to secure their roster spot as a backup option for Johnsen if the tryout was unsuccessful. These discussions fell apart, and H2k continued their pursuit of the player. Later, TSM offered Johnsen a starting spot, which he ultimately accepted. H2k insisted that their initial agreement was legally binding and has enlisted the help of Riot and its own lawyers to investigate the situation.
Esports lawyer Bryce Blum has stated that this situation is complex. He explains that in order for a contract to be legally binding, there must be an offer, acceptance, and consideration. It cannot be open-ended or have pre-conditions. Blum’s analysis suggests that determining the legality of the agreement will not be straightforward.
As of now, Riot has not taken a position on the issue, and H2k and TSM may be headed for a court battle. While Johnsen may play with TSM at IEM San Jose in 10 days, this disagreement is likely far from over.