In light of last night's revised lawsuit announcement by Activision, Electronic Arts corporate spokesperson Jeff Brown responded on behalf of his company, characterizing the announcement to the LA Times as "a PR [public relations] play filled with pettiness and deliberate misdirection." The revised suit added EA as defendants in the case between Activision and West/Zampella, citing several alleged interactions between the ex-Infinity Ward heads and EA, a relationship said to have been fostered by talent agency CAA.
Brown continued, accusing Activision of attempting to "hide the fact that they have no credible response to the claim of the two artists who were fired." He further contends that West and Zampella "now just want to get paid for their work." Unfortunately, it seems for all parties involved that this whole affair is a bit far beyond the basic reconciliation point.
Reader Comments (19)
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:16AM Blay said
Hey Kotdick just give them their earned bonuses and move the F on and make me more games geez.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:35AM Jack Kevorkian said
@Blay Because when you spend years in court you can have those bonuses in an interest earning account so when you inevitably lose... You actually don't lose a cent.
See Exxon on the Valdez settlement. Those shit heads didn't lose a cent to Alaska because they didn't pay the settlement until the last second after 20 years.
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See Exxon on the Valdez settlement. Those shit heads didn't lose a cent to Alaska because they didn't pay the settlement until the last second after 20 years.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:23PM aristokrat said
@Jack Kevorkian
Really? That sucks. Like a deposit payment, the winners of the lawsuit should be entitled to all interest on the amount from the point of initial breach. Yet another backwards incentive encouraging the defendant to slow down the legal process. No wonder so many people go back and forth before law and politics.
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Really? That sucks. Like a deposit payment, the winners of the lawsuit should be entitled to all interest on the amount from the point of initial breach. Yet another backwards incentive encouraging the defendant to slow down the legal process. No wonder so many people go back and forth before law and politics.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:24PM JasonA said
@Jack Kevorkian
That is not correct.
If Activision loses and eventually pays out, it will have to pay a very high rate of interest on what it pays based on Court rules (and that interest will be greater than any amount they could earn by investing the money).
The large interest requirements in the Court rules are specifically there to prevent defendants from purposely delaying payment while they make interest off the money.
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That is not correct.
If Activision loses and eventually pays out, it will have to pay a very high rate of interest on what it pays based on Court rules (and that interest will be greater than any amount they could earn by investing the money).
The large interest requirements in the Court rules are specifically there to prevent defendants from purposely delaying payment while they make interest off the money.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 1:26PM Wizardsofwaverly said
@Blay It's bout principles dude, you're to young to understand. Worlds not all peaches and rainbow and candy
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 1:55PM Blay said
@Wizardsofwaverly
Peaches and candy? sign me up. The rainbows are all yours...
but really? So wanting someone to stop being a d-bag makes me young? He already fired them for reasons no one will ever truly know but those involved and is now denying them the tiny portion of the profits they earned?(yes earned)
Tbh Kotick is only gonna lose more in the long run with PR and attorney fees. They are already gone, he needs to just pay them and move on but what do I know I'm just some young ki.. oh look a firetruck!
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Peaches and candy? sign me up. The rainbows are all yours...
but really? So wanting someone to stop being a d-bag makes me young? He already fired them for reasons no one will ever truly know but those involved and is now denying them the tiny portion of the profits they earned?(yes earned)
Tbh Kotick is only gonna lose more in the long run with PR and attorney fees. They are already gone, he needs to just pay them and move on but what do I know I'm just some young ki.. oh look a firetruck!
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 3:49PM jsx92 said
I don't understand why you guys insist on arguing about law when none of you are lawyers or even remotely close.
The judicial system is for things like this. Big contracts and big money have lots of stipulations. You sound like a complete and total moron when you try to predict the outcome or take a side in this case. By saying the funds are owed, or that someone is lying, you look like a biased jerk who thinks he knows every single little detail about it from reading Joystiq, when really, you don't know jack, and you're just an obnoxious fanboy who thinks he can pass the Bar Exam.
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The judicial system is for things like this. Big contracts and big money have lots of stipulations. You sound like a complete and total moron when you try to predict the outcome or take a side in this case. By saying the funds are owed, or that someone is lying, you look like a biased jerk who thinks he knows every single little detail about it from reading Joystiq, when really, you don't know jack, and you're just an obnoxious fanboy who thinks he can pass the Bar Exam.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:17AM Tereso said
This looks like a fight between Guatemala and Guatepeor. The two of them just want the money.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:18AM PN04 said
When EA calls you on your shit, you know you're in trouble.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:27AM MrAlex said
"Tomorrow: Activision calls 'I'm rubber, you're glue'"
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 11:47AM sanadawarrior said
EA to Activision: I've had enough of your disingenuous assertations!
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:04PM Dlord said
You will directly support this company when you pay $15 for that map pack.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:44PM Kbb81tn said
@Dlord
I most certainly will....because I have no relation to West and Zampella and they could care less if I was dead or alive. I just want my enjoyment from the game that I invested in.
I have nothing to do with their legal battles and/or work issues.
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I most certainly will....because I have no relation to West and Zampella and they could care less if I was dead or alive. I just want my enjoyment from the game that I invested in.
I have nothing to do with their legal battles and/or work issues.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:10PM sammo21 said
In the end, Kotick/Activision has one thing against them: They didn't pay IW what they were due AND if it were true that the TWO founders of IW were so evil to Activision so many people wouldn't have left in their wake. Kotick has said too many stupid things to not have this weigh against him.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:25PM LaughingTarget said
Hey Activision, you may want to check up on the grassy knoll, you may have missed a conspirator.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 8:07PM sonicspike41 said
I feel like this whole legal debate could use a few more "inconceivable!"'s sprinkled throughout.








