Esports is now a multibillion‐dollar industry that has quickly become one of the most discussed segments of the entertainment industry. There has been a rush to mention esports alongside other more traditional sports like baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, but the comparison may not be apt. Esports leagues are fundamentally different from traditional sports leagues because the competitive games that make up esports are the intellectual property of the game makers. This unique structure results in individualized relationships between the game makers, esports producers, the teams, and the competitors. This article is among the first to examine the legal status of esports competitors. In doing so, we discuss the employment conditions within esports that make them unique. The industry is poised to face significant labor‐related challenges in the near future, so the article also analyzes the labor issues esports competitors and leagues face, and the importance for stakeholders to pay attention to the legal status and working conditions of the competitors.

中文翻译：

---

承包商？定义电竞雇佣关系

电子竞技现在是一个价值数十亿美元的产业，已迅速成为娱乐产业中讨论最多的领域之一。急于将电竞与其他更传统的运动（例如棒球，篮球，足球和曲棍球）一起提及，但这种比较可能并不恰当。电子竞技联盟与传统体育联盟在根本上是不同的，因为组成电子竞技的竞争性游戏是游戏制造商的知识产权。这种独特的结构导致了游戏制造商，电子竞技生产商，团队和竞争对手之间的个性化关系。本文是最早研究电竞竞争对手法律地位的文章之一。在此过程中，我们讨论了电子竞技中使他们与众不同的就业条件。