The Network for Interactive Entertainment Regulation (NIER) is an international research community based in the United Kingdom, bringing together scholars who share an interest in the governance and regulation of the interactive entertainment sector. Our members explore how video games, immersive environments, and emerging interactive technologies shape social experiences, raise new policy questions, and create both opportunities and risks for players.
We particularly aim to support early career researchers, providing a welcoming space for interdisciplinary exchange, collaborative projects, and open conversations about evolving research agendas. Whether your background is in law, media studies, social sciences, computer science, design, or any related field, you are warmly invited to take part.
Our mission is to advance research on interactive entertainment regulation, promote evidence-informed policymaking (e.g., to contribute to a deeper understanding of how to protect players from potential harms and risks; how to protect creators and cultural heritage relating to games. We also engage in outreach projects, such as introducing young people to the risks associated with video games and VR, to help foster safer and more informed digital engagement.
NIER hosts a range of activities, including seminars, workshops, blog initiatives, and collaborative research opportunities. We are always excited to meet new colleagues and exchange ideas that help shape the future of interactive entertainment governance.
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Weiwei Yi is PhD Candidate at CREATe, University of Glasgow.
Her research focuses on dark design patterns (manipulative online choice architecture) in online games from the perspectives of data protection and consumer protection law, as well as platform regulation. She is also interested in exploring the regulation of manipulative AI practices in games, virtual reality, and AI chatbots.
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Anyi Liu is PhD Candidate at University of Bristol.
Her research focuses on privacy and data protection law in immersive gaming environments.
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We see you as members if you subscribe to our newsletter. If you want your name to be shown here, you can contact the Convenors via [email protected].🤹 The order of profiles is done alphabetically by first names.
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Dr Cristina Fiani conducted a PhD at the University of Glasgow within the social AI CDT (2021-2025)
Her PhD project focused on safeguarding children in Social Virtual Reality (VR). She is passionate about exploring further the intersection of computing science and psychology.
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Junxiang Feng is a PhD student at CREATe, University of Glasgow.
Her research explores fan games, user creativity, and intellectual property in the video game industry, focusing on how copyright, trade mark, and competition law interact with community practices and emerging technologies such as generative AI.
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Liam Brown is a PhD Candidate at the University of Dundee.
He is a researcher writing about marketing strategies in video game to television transmedia and adaptation. He is also a lecturer at Abertay University, leading the BMT406 International Business module.
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Oscar Verdoire is a PhD Candidate at Maynooth University (Ireland).
His research focuses on user-generated content and copyright in the metaverse, as well as the lessons we can take from previous practices regarding content regulation.
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Peixuan Wang is a PhD Candidate at the University of Birmingham.
She works at the intersection of copyright law and game studies, focusing on gameplay as a form of expression and how copyright frameworks respond to AI-driven, player-influenced, and dynamically evolving game content.
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Ruiyu Xu is a PhD student at CREATe, University of Glasgow.
Her research focuses on video game governance, copyright and competition law. She also has interests in art games, immersive interactive installations, and non-digital games such as board games and live-action role-playing games.
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Here is the list of members who joined us after the launch and who would like to have their profiles listed. NIER greatly appreciates their participation in the network.
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Dr Jiarong Zhang is a Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law.
Her research interests include Intellectual Property Law; IP and Emerging Technologies, IP and Cultural Studies, Cultural Production; Critical IP Theory; and Legal History of IP. Her previous publication discusses digital exhaustion in the game/metaverse context and music elements in the game context.
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