103 Iowa L. Rev. 331 (2017)

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Abstract

Following the release of the hugely popular augmented reality location-based game, Pokémon Go, legal questions began to arise about how the game fit with modern property laws. Because the game encourages individuals to visit real-world locations, many property owners near public parks or landmarks saw an increase in foot traffic that sometimes resulted in trespass or damage to their property. This Note examines the legal ramifications of games or other technologies like Pokémon Go within the current state of the law and subsequently provides suggestions for the law moving forward. This Note ultimately advocates for a government-run registry created through responsive regulation at the federal level. A Do-NotLocate Registry would provide a sufficient avenue for protecting property rights while still considering the inevitable evolution of future augmented reality and location-based technologies.