Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rockstar: Lohan's GTA 5 lawsuit just Jonas-ing for publicity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/rockstar-lohans-gta-5-lawsuit-just-jonas-ing-for-publicity/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/rockstar-lohans-gta-5-lawsuit-just-jonas-ing-for-publicity/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/rockstar-lohans-gta-5-lawsuit-just-jonas-ing-for-publicity/#comments Lindsay Lohan's Grand Theft Auto 5 lawsuit was "filed for publicity purposes" according to creator Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive. Lohan sued Rockstar and Take-Two for damages back in July over the in-game character of Lacey Jonas, a troubled young actress who struggles with an eating disorder and dealing with the paparazzi.

The case claimed Lohan's image, voice and styles from her clothing label were all used to depict Jonas, forming an "unequivocal" reference to the Mean Girls star. As the Associated Press reports, Rockstar is having none of it. Manhattan court papers made public this week show Take-Two and its subsidiary not only want the suit dismissed, but the company wants Lohan to pay its legal fees. As far as Take-Two is concerned, Jonas only resembles Lohan in being a young, blonde woman.

Continue reading Rockstar: Lohan's GTA 5 lawsuit just Jonas-ing for publicity

JoystiqRockstar: Lohan's GTA 5 lawsuit just Jonas-ing for publicity originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casecourtgrand-theft-auto-5gta5lawsuitlindsay-lohanmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4RockStarRockstar-GamesTake-TwoTake-Two-Interactivexboxxbox-oneWed, 27 Aug 2014 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Silicon Knights dev sentenced in child pornography case]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/30/former-silicon-knights-dev-sentenced-in-child-pornography-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/30/former-silicon-knights-dev-sentenced-in-child-pornography-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/30/former-silicon-knights-dev-sentenced-in-child-pornography-case/#comments Former Precursor Games and Silicon Knights designer Ken McCulloch was sentenced this week in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines, Canada on child pornography charges. Judge Joseph Nadel sentenced McCulloch to 12 months of time served; McCulloch has been jailed since his arrest in late June 2013, after he pleaded guilty to making child pornography available.

According to The Welland Tribune, Niagara Regional Police also charged McCulloch with sexual assault, forcible confinement and sexual interference during his time in jail in the past year. McCulloch will remain in custody, returning to court on August 26 to answer to those charges. As a result of the initial sentencing, McCulloch will be added to the provincial sex offender registry for the next 20 years. Judge Nadel also ordered McCulloch to stay away from any child under the age of 16 and from schools, parks, recreation centers and public pools for 10 years.

Continue reading Former Silicon Knights dev sentenced in child pornography case

JoystiqFormer Silicon Knights dev sentenced in child pornography case originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrestassaultcanadachargescourtjailKen-McCullochkenneth-mccullochlawlegalNiagara-Regional-PolicePrecursor-Gamesprisonshadow-of-the-eternalsWed, 30 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/24/court-approves-settlement-over-sonys-2011-psn-breach/#comments The US District Court for the Southern District of California approved a settlement for the class action lawsuit resulting from Sony's 2011 PSN data breach. The settlement may result in Sony doling out as much as $17.75 million, which includes an offer for one free game (PS3 or PSP only), three PS3 themes or credit for three months of PlayStation Plus membership (valid only for new subscribers).

The claimant groups are divided based on whether PSN account holders prior to May 15, 2011 took advantage of the "Welcome Back" program following the intrusion. Those that did not accept the PSN Welcome Back offer can claim two of the benefit options among the games, themes and PS Plus membership credit on a first come, first served basis until a $6 million allocation from Sony is reached. For those that did take advantage of the program, they will receive one of the benefits above until a $4 million allocation is reached.

Continue reading Court approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach

JoystiqCourt approves settlement over Sony's 2011 PSN breach originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>claimsclass-actionclass-action-lawsuitcourtlawsuitplaystationPlayStation-Networkps3PSNpsn-outage-2011pspsettlementsonywelcome-backThu, 24 Jul 2014 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Original Madden NFL designer awarded $11 million in EA lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/23/ea-antonick-madden-lawsuit-ruling-11-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/23/ea-antonick-madden-lawsuit-ruling-11-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/23/ea-antonick-madden-lawsuit-ruling-11-million/#comments A US District Court jury in the Northern District of California has ruled in favor of Robin Antonick, the original credited designer for EA's Madden NFL series, in his lawsuit against publisher Electronic Arts, awarding him $11 million. Antonick's lawsuit against EA sought unpaid royalties for iterations in the series released between 1990 and 1996.

The jury found that games released during that time "were virtually identical to the original version of Madden NFL Football, developed by Antonick," according to a press release issued by Hagens Berman, the law firm representing Antonick. The release also notes that Antonick and his attorneys will "seek to appeal previous rulings that excluded Super Nintendo games and fraud claims from the jury deliberations."

Antonick's case will now move forward to the next phase, in which the court will decide whether EA owes Antonick royalties for games in the series that launched from 1997 to today.

Continue reading Original Madden NFL designer awarded $11 million in EA lawsuit

JoystiqOriginal Madden NFL designer awarded $11 million in EA lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 21:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courteaEA-SportsElectronic-Artslawsuitmadden-nfl-25robin-antonickverdictxboxTue, 23 Jul 2013 21:52:00 EST<![CDATA[TimeGate loses SouthPeak appeal, faces $7.3M in damages]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/timegate-loses-southpeak-appeal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/timegate-loses-southpeak-appeal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/timegate-loses-southpeak-appeal/#comments TimeGate Studios lost the latest round in court of its battle against publisher SouthPeak Interactive, which could result in the studio paying $7.35 million in damages and losing the Section 8 intellectual property. Polygon obtained the court documents that SouthPeak recently won its appeal of arbitration handled early last year.

The two companies have been fighting in court since 2009, when TimeGate sued SouthPeak for embezzling royalties and SouthPeak took on Timegate for fraudulent misrepresentation in its publishing agreement.

TimeGate most recently co-developed Aliens: Colonial Marines and laid off 25 employees. It is currently working on the free-to-play shooter Minimum. Meanwhile, Southpeak is busy... um, looks like it's busy making money through litigation. The publisher hasn't produced a game since Stronghold 3 in 2011 according to its own website.

JoystiqTimeGate loses SouthPeak appeal, faces $7.3M in damages originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtlawlawsuitsection-8southpeaksouthpeak-interactivetimegateTimeGate-StudiosThu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court extends claims period on $27 million EA Sports settlement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/court-extends-claims-period-on-27-million-ea-sports-settlement/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/court-extends-claims-period-on-27-million-ea-sports-settlement/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/court-extends-claims-period-on-27-million-ea-sports-settlement/#comments Court extends claims period on $27 million EA Sports settlementThe United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of California has sent word that it has modified the settlement distribution plan and certified the ongoing lawsuit against Electronic Arts and its exclusive NFL, NCAA, and AFL licenses. Because fewer than expected claims have been filed, the court has extended the claim period from this past March to May 15, 2013.

If you've already filed a claim, you're good to go, and the court says this agreement won't decrease your portion of the settlement. If you haven't filed a claim yet, aren't an EA employee, and bought a Madden NFL, NCAA Football, or Arena Football game for Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 or 3, the GameCube, or the Wii between January 1, 2005 and June 21, 2012, you can file a claim on the website and still be eligible to receive some compensation.

This decision does not mean the court has agreed to any wrongdoing on EA's part, and EA itself still denies the claims that these exclusive licenses were anything but "legal and proper," according to the notice. But EA says that it is filing this settlement "solely to eliminate the uncertainties, burden, and expense of further protracted litigation."

JoystiqCourt extends claims period on $27 million EA Sports settlement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>claims-periodcourtcourtseaea-sportsextensionMadden-06Madden-NFL-06microsoftnintendoplaystationps3settlementwiixboxMon, 15 Apr 2013 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Judge denies THQ's plan for a quick sale as Warner Bros., others show interest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/judge-denies-thqs-plan-for-a-quick-sale-as-warner-bros-others/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/judge-denies-thqs-plan-for-a-quick-sale-as-warner-bros-others/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/judge-denies-thqs-plan-for-a-quick-sale-as-warner-bros-others/#comments Earlier this week, the various organizations to which THQ owes giant piles of money filed an objection, claiming that the developer/publisher's bankruptcy plan for a quick sale to Clearlake Capital Group was designed to minimize harm to its staff and leadership, rather than maximize its ability to pay back its debt obligations.

As is the way with these sorts of things, a hearing was held yesterday to get the situation sorted, during which U.S. bankruptcy judge Mary F. Walrath concluded that THQ's plan does not allow enough time for interested parties other than Clearlake Capital Group to get properly involved in the process. Therefore, the plan is rejected.

"I am not convinced that we are under the gun to have a sale process by the 15th," Walrath said during the hearing, according to Business Week. Another hearing has been scheduled for Monday, January 7. "In the meantime I think the parties need to talk."

Meanwhile, five companies are in the process of due diligence, Centerview Partners banker Sam Greene testified during the hearing. Warner Bros. lawyer Howard J. Weg was also in attendance, saying that WB would be interested in further exploring THQ's available assets, should the sales period be extended.

Buying up franchises from bankrupt developers is nothing new for Warner Bros., and considering how well Mortal Kombat turned out, it may not be a terrible development, should it come to pass. Imagine, for instance, a Saints Row game developed by RockSteady, or a Darksiders fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios. Worse things have happened.

JoystiqJudge denies THQ's plan for a quick sale as Warner Bros., others show interest originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbankruptcycourtlawlegalTHQWarner-BrosWarner-Bros-InteractiveWarner-Bros-Interactive-EntertainmentSat, 05 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EU court rules it's legal to resell digital games, software]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/eu-court-rules-its-legal-to-resell-digital-games-software/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/eu-court-rules-its-legal-to-resell-digital-games-software/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/eu-court-rules-its-legal-to-resell-digital-games-software/#comments EU court rules it's legal to resell digital games, softwareBuying and reselling any form of digital software is perfectly legal, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled. Software authors - or in the gaming world, publishers - can not stop customers from reselling their games, even if the publisher attaches an End User License Agreement prohibiting resale.

"The exclusive right of distribution of a copy of a computer program covered by such a licence is exhausted on its first sale," the court has found.

This ruling covers customers in European Union member states, and games bought through services such as Steam or Origin. The initial purchaser is now entitled to sell the license of a game and allow someone else to download it directly from the publisher's website. The tricky part now is selling the actual license, since there is no system in place for any such transaction. The initial buyer would need a code for a game's license and upon selling it, he would no longer be able to access that game on his account.

The ruling applies to the broader scope of software, covering items such as Windows and Adobe downloads. There is no word yet on whether game distributors will change policies or services to enable a license-selling process, but that would make Steam sales much more interesting in the EU.

JoystiqEU court rules it's legal to resell digital games, software originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtdigitaldownloadEUeuropeEuropean-UnionmacoriginpcresaleresellrulingsoftwareSTEAMused-gamesTue, 03 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[No Doubt vs Activision lawsuit cleared for trial later this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/no-doubt-vs-activision-lawsuit-cleared-for-trial-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/no-doubt-vs-activision-lawsuit-cleared-for-trial-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/no-doubt-vs-activision-lawsuit-cleared-for-trial-later-this-year/#comments ImageNo Doubt is officially allowed to sue Activision over its use of band members' avatars in Band Hero - again. Seriously, we've written this piece, like, three times already. This story is bananas.

Sorry.

No Doubt, the rock band led by singer Gwen Stefani, sued Activision in 2009, claiming it was used to create a "virtual karaoke circus act;" No Doubt says it only signed off on having its likeness portrayed singing its own songs, but the band is unlockable to play through the game's complete catalog.

A Superior Court judge has denied Activision's attempt to dismiss claims from the case, including fraud, violation of publicity rights and breach of contract, and it is expected to (finally) go to trial later this year. Activision says it has a video recording of No Doubt being told about the unlockable features and it is looking forward to presenting its defense.

JoystiqNo Doubt vs Activision lawsuit cleared for trial later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionbandBand-HerocourtdsGwen-StefanilawsuitmicrosoftmusicnintendoNo-Doubtplaystationps3wiixboxWed, 30 May 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott wins lawsuit against NCsoft (again)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft-again/#comments Last July, spacefaring game developer Richard Garriott won $28 million in a court case against former employer (and Tabula Rasa publisher) NCSoft, claiming that he was forced to sell his stock in the company at a low point in the market following his termination. NCSoft appealed the decision, and, after more than a year of further legal struggle, an appellate decision was reached in the 5th Circuit Court: Richard's getting paper.

"It would be unjust to allow NCsoft to sit back during trial, observe Garriott's litigation strategy, and then demand a new trial on damages when it dislikes the verdict," the ruling reads. Garriott's former victory was not only upheld -- NCSoft now owes him $32 million with interest and attorney fees. With that kind of cash, he could buy back his old manor, and build, like, five new manors on top of it. Or he could just go into space again; in the long run, that's probably the better investment.

Continue reading Richard Garriott wins lawsuit against NCsoft (again)

JoystiqRichard Garriott wins lawsuit against NCsoft (again) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtlawsuitlegalncsoftpcRichard-Garriotttabula-rasaTue, 25 Oct 2011 19:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Supreme Court's Brown v. EMA opinions: A digest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/supreme-courts-brown-v-ema-opinions-a-digest/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/supreme-courts-brown-v-ema-opinions-a-digest/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/supreme-courts-brown-v-ema-opinions-a-digest/#comments Between the majority, concurring and dissenting opinions published in today's Supreme Court decision on Brown v. EMA, there's a good 92 pages of legalese for enthusiastic gaming activists to pore over. If you don't feel like flipping through a novella of legal documents in search of relevant, easily digestible bits, feel free to check out some highlights from each opinion, which we've compiled after the jump!

Continue reading Supreme Court's Brown v. EMA opinions: A digest

JoystiqSupreme Court's Brown v. EMA opinions: A digest originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ab-1179brown-v-emacaliforniacourtecaemaesaesrblawpoliticsSchwarzeneggerSchwarzenegger-v-EMAscotussupreme-courtMon, 27 Jun 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Supreme Court decision on Schwarzenegger v. EMA possibly coming this week [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/supreme-court-decision-on-schwarzenegger-v-ema-possibly-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/supreme-court-decision-on-schwarzenegger-v-ema-possibly-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/supreme-court-decision-on-schwarzenegger-v-ema-possibly-coming/#comments According to SCOTUSblog, a site dedicated to tracking the activity of the head of our nation's Judicial Branch, a decision on November's hearing of Schwarzenegger v. EMA (now Brown v. EMA, reflecting California's new, assumedly punier governor) will be released this week. The hearing was held to review a California law which prohibited the sale of mature games to minors -- a law which was attacked due to its ambiguity in defining what constituted a mature game.

The blog expects the court to either issue its opinion on Brown v. EMA today or Thursday -- we'll make sure to let you know where they come down. Personally, we really hope they decide in favor of the EMA, as this would be a kind of a bummer of a week for video games to be totally outlawed. (That's probably not going to happen.)

Update: Though the Supreme Court was expected to rule this week, it looks like they'll be holding their decision for a later date. The SCOTUS session ends the week of June 27, and though the court could conceivably extend the session, a decision is expected before then.

JoystiqSupreme Court decision on Schwarzenegger v. EMA possibly coming this week [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ab-1179courtlawlegalpoliticsSchwarzenegger-v-EMAsupreme-courtMon, 06 Jun 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop targeted in class action suit over personal info]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gamestop-targeted-in-class-action-suit-over-personal-info/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gamestop-targeted-in-class-action-suit-over-personal-info/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gamestop-targeted-in-class-action-suit-over-personal-info/#comments GameStop may know a lot more about you than you realize, a new class action lawsuit suggests. Melissa Arechiga is accusing the game retail giant of storing personal information of its customers without their knowledge or consent.

According to the complaint, GameStop acquires "additional personal information, including the cardholder's physical residential address, by pairing the PII (personal identification information) with the cardholder's name obtained from the credit card." Essentially, the suit alleges you're handing over a lot more than just a credit card number to GameStop when you swipe for your purchase.

"Such conduct is performed intentionally and without the knowledge or consent of the cardholder, and is of potentially great benefit to [GameStop]," the document adds. But how else would you be able to get Game Informer, right?

The class action suit will potentially apply to all Californian GameStop shoppers. IGN has posted a PDF copy of the suit in full.

JoystiqGameStop targeted in class action suit over personal info originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaclass-actioncourtgamestoplawsuitlegalprivacyMon, 28 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apogee and Take-Two settle Duke Nukem Forever lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/apogee-and-take-two-settle-duke-nukem-forever-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/apogee-and-take-two-settle-duke-nukem-forever-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/apogee-and-take-two-settle-duke-nukem-forever-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After Duke Nukem Forever's lengthy (and often mocked) development ended without a retail product, developer Apogee and publisher Take-Two played the blame game in court. A lawsuit, and subsequent countersuit, held serious accusations against both: Take-Two demanded compensation for lost money loaned to the developer, while Apogee claimed pressure to sell the IP for "less than their true value."

While details of the litigation aren't made clear in this court filing, it appears both companies have accepted a settlement, with all accusations "dismissed with prejudice" -- in other words, neither Take-Two nor Apogee will be able to bring this action to court again. According to the document, "each party is to bear its own portion of the costs of this litigation."

JoystiqApogee and Take-Two settle Duke Nukem Forever lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apogeecourtduke-nukem-foreverlawsuitsettlementtake-twoFri, 11 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Midway liquidation plan approved by court]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/midway-liquidation-plan-approved-by-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/midway-liquidation-plan-approved-by-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/midway-liquidation-plan-approved-by-court/#comments The last shreds of the former developer known as Midway will soon be dissolved into the ether, as a Delaware court has agreed to the terms of the company's plan to repay a portion of its debts. Businessweek reports that after liquidating all its assets, Midway will distribute about $25.5 million to unsecured noteholders, which is about 16.5 percent of what those noteholders are owed. Unsecured creditors will get $9.2 million, which is around one-quarter of what Midway owes them.

So, now that all of its assets either belong to Warner Bros. or are being hocked to repay lenders, we think we've probably seen the last of the once great Midway empire. Unless one of you guys feels like giving them like, $600 million. C'mon, there's gotta be at least one obscenely rich, completely obsessed Mortal Kombat fan out there.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqMidway liquidation plan approved by court originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 May 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcybusinessclosurecourtindustrylegalliquidationmidwaySun, 23 May 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Accused PAX East 'Breach' thief shows up for court]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/accused-pax-east-breach-thief-shows-up-for-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/accused-pax-east-breach-thief-shows-up-for-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/accused-pax-east-breach-thief-shows-up-for-court/#comments Justin May, the 20-year-old man accused of trying to steal Atomic Games' Breach off the PAX East show floor, finally showed up in court today -- after previously skipping bail and eventually agreeing to appear for arraignment. Assistant District Attorney Kate Clayman briefly recited the facts of the case in Boston Municipal Court this morning and the judge released May on his own recognizance. No monetary bail was set.

Suffolk County District Attorney Press Secretary Jake Wark told Joystiq that May will return to court with his defense attorney on June 27 to file a motion to dismiss the case.

According to Atomic Games' complaint filed with Boston police, the company placed the value of Breach "in excess of $6 million." We're currently following up with Atomic Games and the District Attorney's office to find out how events are expected to proceed from here.

Update: Comment from Atomic and the DA's office after the break.

Gallery: Breach

Continue reading Accused PAX East 'Breach' thief shows up for court

JoystiqAccused PAX East 'Breach' thief shows up for court originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomic-gamesbreachcourtjustin-maylawMicrosoftpax-eastpax-east-2010Xbox-360Wed, 19 May 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Underage PlayStation site hacker sentenced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/underage-playstation-site-hacker-sentenced/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/underage-playstation-site-hacker-sentenced/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/underage-playstation-site-hacker-sentenced/#comments Ever wondered what kind of a penalty bringing down the official website of one of the largest commercial technology manufacturers in the world for 11 days carries with it? If you're the heretofore unnamed 17-year-old from Latrobe, Penn., who managed said feat after being disqualified from a SOCOM tournament for cheating, you're facing 12 months probation, 250 hours of community service and owe $5,000 in damages to Sony.

That was the sentence recently handed down in the grand jury investigation into the teen's "cyber attack" on the official PlayStation site in 2008. Sony's legal representatives initially sought over $33,000 in damages from the young man, though the presiding judge ruled such a fee was "excessive" and reduced it by quite a bit.

Personally, we think 33 Gs would help get the lesson across better. When we were kids, we'd drop five dimes on stuff everyday, you know?

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqUnderage PlayStation site hacker sentenced originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 May 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheatcourtgrand-juryhacklatrobelawlawsuitlegalsentencingsocomsonyMon, 10 May 2010 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Court denies EA's motion to dismiss former NCAA player's lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/court-denies-eas-motion-to-dismiss-former-ncaa-players-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/court-denies-eas-motion-to-dismiss-former-ncaa-players-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/court-denies-eas-motion-to-dismiss-former-ncaa-players-lawsuit/#comments We've been on pins and needles since last May, when we first heard about former NCAA football player Samuel Keller's lawsuit against EA, which claimed that his likeness and the likenesses of his former athletic colleagues had been used in the company's games without permission. According to court documents obtained by Patent Arcade, there was a development in the case last week: The U.S. District for the Northern District of California denied EA's motion to dismiss Keller's claims outright.

According to the aforementioned court documents, EA's defense claimed the NCAA series' in-game players were subject to "significant transformative elements," which allowed the title to be protected by the First Amendment. The court saw differently, however, ruling that "EA's game goes beyond mere reporting of 'just the players' names and statistics; it offers a depiction of the student athletes' physical characteristics and, as noted, enables consumers to control the virtual players on a simulated football field."

In short, Keller's complaints have garnered some traction in the California court. We'll likely be hearing more on this case -- we just hope we don't have to wait eight and a half months before the next update comes.

JoystiqCourt denies EA's motion to dismiss former NCAA player's lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courteaea-sportsElectronic-Artsfootballlawlawsuitncaasamuel-kellersportsSun, 14 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision countersues No Doubt, which is likely not feeling 'Hella Good']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/activision-countersues-no-doubt-who-is-likely-not-feeling-hell/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/activision-countersues-no-doubt-who-is-likely-not-feeling-hell/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/activision-countersues-no-doubt-who-is-likely-not-feeling-hell/#comments Last month, the extremely certain pop-rock outfit No Doubt sued Activision for allowing their likenesses to be used in Band Hero, where players could perform the game's entire catalog of songs as the Stefani-fronted group. According to the complaint, this feature turned the band's appearance in the game into a "virtual karaoke circus act." Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter dug up a countersuit filed against the band by Activision, who claimed No Doubt was in breach of a contract between the two parties, and had reaped unjust enrichment as a result.

Activision's main response to No Doubt's claim is that that the band requested their likenesses be limited to perform the band's own songs in-game -- however, it made this request "only after the Band Hero programming was finalized." Activision seeks an unspecified amount of damages and interest from the band, as well as court and attorney fees, and a return of all payments dispersed to the band for their initial involvement. Jeez, Activision. Might as well go ahead and ask for the kitchen sink while you're at it.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqActivision countersues No Doubt, which is likely not feeling 'Hella Good' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionband-herocourtlawlawsuitMicrosoftmusicNintendono-doubtrhythmWiiXbox-360Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Court backs Interplay in Fallout MMO squabble; concept art surfaces]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/report-court-backs-interplay-in-fallout-mmo-squabble-concept-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/report-court-backs-interplay-in-fallout-mmo-squabble-concept-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/report-court-backs-interplay-in-fallout-mmo-squabble-concept-a/#comments
The twists and turns in the saga of Interplay's suspected Fallout MMO, "Project V13," date back to 2006. The latest came this week when, according to a report by No Mutants Allowed, someone claiming to be an Interplay stockholder revealed that Fallout IP owner Bethesda was denied an injunction it had sought against Interplay.

Bethesda had hoped to strip Interplay of the Fallout license after the publisher had supposedly broken an agreement to begin development of the MMO before April 4, 2009. Interplay claims that's not the case and, perhaps to prove its point, has posted concept art from the could-be-a-game on its forums.

As much as we'd love to play an MMO based on our favorite post-nuclear RPG, we can't help but feel this falling out between the two companies is going to keep us waiting until the real apocalypse -- and beyond.

Gallery: Project V13 (Fallout MMO)

Graveyard (concept art)Factory (concept art)

[Via BigDownload]

JoystiqReport: Court backs Interplay in Fallout MMO squabble; concept art surfaces originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Softworksbethesda-v-interplayconcept-artcourtfalloutfallout-mmofallout-onlineinterplaylegalmmoproject-v13Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Firmware 3.0 troubles spawn class action lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ps3-firmware-3-0-troubles-spawn-class-action-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ps3-firmware-3-0-troubles-spawn-class-action-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ps3-firmware-3-0-troubles-spawn-class-action-lawsuit/#comments
What's New? For one: a class action lawsuit filed by John Kennedy, who accuses Sony's 3.0-version PlayStation firmware update of breaching implied warranty and signaling an act of negligence (among other complaints). As detailed by Courthouse News Service, the suit alleges that "thousands" of PS3 owners downloaded the update, only to find that it caused the system to malfunction and suffer damage to hardware.

While Firmware 3.0 was reported to be problematic (particularly in unison with Naughty Dog's popular action game, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune), Sony soon issued an update to quell concerns. The manufacturer was also quick to separate hardware failures -- such as disc drive errors -- from the firmware update. It's the resulting $150 repair fee that provided impetus to Kennedy's suit, which aims to determine appropriate restitution during trial.

[Via Gamasutra]

JoystiqPS3 Firmware 3.0 troubles spawn class action lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtfirmwarelawsuitps3-firmwareps3-firmware-3.00Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[PalTalk takes patent infringement suit on the road, sues MMO devs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/paltalk-takes-patent-infringement-suit-on-the-road-sues-mmo-dev/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/paltalk-takes-patent-infringement-suit-on-the-road-sues-mmo-dev/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/paltalk-takes-patent-infringement-suit-on-the-road-sues-mmo-dev/#comments PalTalk Holdings is feeling pretty zesty following its legal victory over Microsoft this past March, so it's decided to take its patent infringement suit against a few major players in the MMO market. Turbine, Sony, Activision Blizzard, Jagex and NCSoft are all staring down the barrel of PalTalk's litigation cannon -- which, after forcing Microsoft to come to a settlement earlier this year, now has a substantial amount of precedent supporting it.

PalTalk purchased two patents from a company called HearMe in 2002 for technology which shares data between networked computers, allowing users to see the same virtual space as they interact with one another in real time. One could construe that to mean PalTalk owns the patent on online multiplayer altogether -- but we're sure Activision's beefy legal team will have a few arguments to the contrary up its sleeve.

JoystiqPalTalk takes patent infringement suit on the road, sues MMO devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardcourtjagexlawlawsuitlegalmmoncsoftpaltalkpcsoeturbineWed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Pirate Bay retrial request denied]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-pirate-bay-retrial-request-denied/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-pirate-bay-retrial-request-denied/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-pirate-bay-retrial-request-denied/#comments
It seems the lengthy litigatory road embarked upon by The Pirate Bay's four founders back in April is finally coming to an end. Following a guilty verdict that sentenced Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Carl Lundstrom and Peter Sunde to one year in prison and fines of 30 million kronor (about $4 million), the quartet's lawyer requested an appeal after it was revealed that the presiding judge over the case was, in fact, a member of the Swedish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property. The request was denied earlier today by the Svea Court of Appeal.

Yes, the folks who made it possible to finally find that KeyGen for your downloaded copy of Barbie Horse Adventures: Mystery Ride are heading for a Swedish slammer -- but before they go, they'll reportedly press charges against Sweden for violating their human rights.

[Original image: marcusrg]

JoystiqThe Pirate Bay retrial request denied originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealcourtjudgepiracypirate-baythe-pirate-bayFri, 26 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Court filing reveals 2K Games was developing 'Duke Begins']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/court-filing-reveals-2k-games-was-developing-duke-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/court-filing-reveals-2k-games-was-developing-duke-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/court-filing-reveals-2k-games-was-developing-duke-begins/#comments
Did you seriously think he'd just roll over and die? He's Duke Nukem, guys. We're pretty sure he can't be killed by conventional weapons (such as bankruptcy).

This news came in response to last month's Take-Two court filing against Duke Nukem Forever developer Apogee Software, which attempted to recoup loans the publisher had distributed to Apogee -- loans which would have ostensibly been repaid by DNF royalties. Apogee's attorneys responded Friday with a shocking revelation -- in exchange for their support, Apogee gave Take-Two the rights to simultaneously develop another Duke Nukem game. Take-Two tasked 2K Games with said development under the working title Duke Begins.

Apogee's defense states that 2K "halted or otherwise canceled all development work by the third-party game developer on the Duke Begins game in April 2009," an action Apogee sees as Take-Two's attempt at, "pressuring Apogee to sell the Duke Nukem franchise rights to Take-Two for less than their true value." With the cat officially out of the bag, we expect to hear more about the Duke's origin story (like, if it's still being developed) in the near future.

[Update: Turns out that the mysterious third-party developer working on Duke Begins for Take-Two was none other than Gearbox Software.]

JoystiqCourt filing reveals 2K Games was developing 'Duke Begins' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesapogeecourtduke-beginsduke-nukemduke-nukem-foreverfpstake-twoMon, 22 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo wins yet another patent infringement case ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/nintendo-wins-yet-another-patent-infringement-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/nintendo-wins-yet-another-patent-infringement-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/nintendo-wins-yet-another-patent-infringement-case/#comments Nintendo seems to be on a streak as of late, laying down a good old Mario stomp over any patent infringement case thrown its way. Back in March, Nintendo won a case filed in Texas by Fenner Investments Ltd, and now Nintendo has won another one filed by Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd. On June 8th, only six months after the lawsuit was filed in California, Judge Manuel Real ruled in favor of Nintendo and dismissed the case.

Nintendo's VP of legal and general counsel, Rick Flamm, is jovial over the court's decision. He said that the case was dismissed because Nintendo convinced the court that "Guardian's patent had nothing to do with Nintendo's products." Mr. Flamm must be keeping one of those glittery stars in his pocket, because it looks like Nintendo's legal game is invincible.

JoystiqNintendo wins yet another patent infringement case originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtinfringementlawpatentMon, 15 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports facing litigation from NCAA football players]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/ea-sports-facing-litigation-from-ncaa-football-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/ea-sports-facing-litigation-from-ncaa-football-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/ea-sports-facing-litigation-from-ncaa-football-players/#comments
Man, EA Sports just can't catch a break. Not only is it reportedly under fire from a number of retired NFL players, but they could be facing litigation from incensed NCAA football players as well. The complaint is similar to that of the aforementioned pro ballers -- former Arizona State and Nebraska football player Samuel Keller recently filed a class action suit against EA for using the likenesses of his fellow collegiate athletes in NCAA Football and Basketball titles without any compensation.

Just like in the NFL lawsuit, Keller claims that while the digital players lack monikers, they have the same jersey numbers, home states, height, weight, skin tone, hair color and hair style of their real-life counterparts. Sounds pretty similar to the complaints featured in the NFL retirees' successful suit against the NFLPA. We'll keep an eye on this one to see if Keller and the other college players get similar results.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqEA Sports facing litigation from NCAA football players originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basketballcourtea-sportsfootballlawsuitncaasamuel-kellerThu, 07 May 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda settles stolen games dispute with retailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/bethesda-settles-stolen-games-dispute-with-retailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/bethesda-settles-stolen-games-dispute-with-retailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/bethesda-settles-stolen-games-dispute-with-retailer/#comments
British retailer Awesome Games recently came under fire for some copies of Fallout 3 it had purchased. Believed to be imported stock, the fact that the title had yet to release did not clue in Awesome Games to the potential origins of these copies of Fallout 3, which developer Bethesda believed to be stolen. Now, the two have managed to settle the dispute out of court, with Awesome Games owner Ahnes Qureshi paying monetary damages to Bethesda and an injunction being placed that would prevent the retailer from infringing on Bethesda's properties in the future.

It's a much more peaceful resolution than what we had in mind, really, which involved hanging chainsaws and dog whistles.

JoystiqBethesda settles stolen games dispute with retailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesome-gamesbethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-Softworkscourtfallout-3lawsuitMicrosoftRPGsettlementukXbox-360Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Feds and creditors decry Midway's 'key employee incentive plan']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/feds-and-creditors-decry-midways-key-employee-incentive-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/feds-and-creditors-decry-midways-key-employee-incentive-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/feds-and-creditors-decry-midways-key-employee-incentive-plan/#comments
Like flies to honey, Midway can't seem to stop attracting controversy as it attempts to stay afloat during its "planned" bankruptcy phase. This time around, the besieged developer is coming under fire from its creditors and the government committee overseeing its bankruptcy proceedings for planning to dish out $3.755 million to 29 of its employees as part of a "key employee incentive plan."

According to The Cut Scene, the bonuses were set up to reward the select employees (five of which are supposedly Midway executives) should they manage to sell the Wheelman and Mortal Kombat franchises. The feds and creditors took issue with these goals -- when the "incentive plan" was submitted, Wheelman had already been sold to Ubisoft. The incensed parties also took issue with attaching incentives to the sale of Mortal Kombat -- a duty mandated by Midway's "obligations under the Bankruptcy Code."

There are other troublesome points in the plan, such as the fairly high amount of cash it would dispense -- cash that the owed creditors would like to see in their own coffers. Midway will reportedly file an updated (and likely less lucrative) version of the "incentive plan" before its public bankruptcy hearing tomorrow morning.

Update: The revised "key incentive plan" was submitted by Midway last night and alters the previous plan in a few key ways. Midway CEO Matt Booty has been subtracted from the equation, leaving four out of 28 potential employees receiving bonuses, and of those 28, the bonus will be based on the amount of money various properties are sold at. The sale of the Wheelman property will no longer be considered as part of the bonus requirements and the Mortal Kombat franchise will only count if "all of its assets" are sold along with it. To read more about what has changed, check out The Cut Scene.

JoystiqFeds and creditors decry Midway's 'key employee incentive plan' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcychapter-11courtcreditorsgovernmentincentivesmidwaymortal-kombatwheelmanTue, 31 Mar 2009 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft settles Paltalk copyright infringement suit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/microsoft-settles-paltalk-copyright-infringement-suit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/microsoft-settles-paltalk-copyright-infringement-suit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/microsoft-settles-paltalk-copyright-infringement-suit/#comments
While we were gearing up for an epic, The Firm-esque judicial showdown, it seems Microsoft has settled the lawsuit filed against it by PalTalk Holdings, who claimed certain components of Xbox Live infringe upon two of their patents. Neither company announced how much Microsoft forked over in the settlement -- we assume it was significantly less than the exorbitant $90 million in damages PalTalk was seeking. While we don't know the particulars of how money changed hands in the settlement, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed it was an "amicable agreement," so it's pretty safe to assume that hugs were exchanged.

[Via CVG]
[image]

JoystiqMicrosoft settles Paltalk copyright infringement suit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyright-infringementcourtlawsuitmicrosoftpaltalksettlementtrialXbox-360Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Midway execs subpoenaed over company sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/former-midway-execs-subpoenaed-over-company-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/former-midway-execs-subpoenaed-over-company-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/former-midway-execs-subpoenaed-over-company-sale/#comments
Looks like the long arm of the law finally caught up to the Redstones, as Sumner and his daughter Shari have both been subpoenaed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, regarding Sumner selling his stake in Midway to Mark Thomas. Both of the Redstones must appear in a New York court later this month for deposition and will provide physical and electronically-stored documents pertaining to the sale of Midway. For some odd reason, Mark Thomas hasn't been called. He bought Sumner's stake in the company for $100,000 and assumed $70 million in debt in doing so, which is something we would assume the court would want to hear about.

Speculation suggests that Mark took over the $70 million debt because $30 million of it was secured debt, meaning that it would be paid to Thomas before the bondholders, who are owed a total of $150 million by Midway. The subpoena document states: "The cash collateral order places a clear emphasis on insiders getting paid before and, potentially, at the expense of the estates and their creditors." If you want to read the document for yourself, click here (warning: pdf link).

[Via Edge]

JoystiqFormer Midway execs subpoenaed over company sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscourtinside-tradesinsider-tradinglawmark-thomasmidwayshari-redstonesumner-redstoneThu, 05 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard locked in legal battle with WoW bot maker]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/blizzard-locked-in-legal-battle-with-wow-bot-maker/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/blizzard-locked-in-legal-battle-with-wow-bot-maker/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/blizzard-locked-in-legal-battle-with-wow-bot-maker/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The BBC today has a nice little summary of the ongoing legal battle between Blizzard, maker of World of Warcraft, and Michael Donnelly, maker of bot program MMO Glider. In short, Blizzard says MMO Glider violates its copyrights and the end-user license agreement that players agree to when they install the game. Donnelly says he isn't breaking copyright because he isn't selling a copy of the game client itself, and that no one reads those stupid end-user license agreements anyway (we may have made up that last part of Donnelly's defense, but that doesn't make it any less true!).

WoW Insider also has an update on the latest round of legal wrangling in the case, which seems to be a somewhat split decision that leans towards the side of the bot-makers. Ethical issues aside, we definitely don't have the legal acumen necessary to work out which side is in the right here. If any commenters out there think they can untangle this one, have at it.

JoystiqBlizzard locked in legal battle with WoW bot maker originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblizzardbotcheatcheaterscheatingcourtlegalPCworld-of-warcraftWoWWed, 26 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Square wins plagiarism case against Korean music video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/square-wins-plagiarism-case-against-korean-music-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Imitation isn't only the sincerest form of flattery, it's also the most legally actionable. At least it is to Square Enix, which recently won a plagiarism case against South Korean music video producer Fantom to the tune of 16 million won (approx. $17,400).

The case centers on the video for the song Temptation Sonata, in which live actors recreate a scene from Square Enix's animated movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. According to a judge for the Seoul Central District Court, the video "illegally used 80% of the storyline, setting, characters and their styles of dress and their demeanors," from the movie scene. We're not sure how the judge came to such an exact statistic, but who are we to argue with such an official sounding pronouncement?

A comparison of the videos (both viewable below the break) shows much more than a passing similarity between the two, and Square was definitely within its rights taking legal action. That said, we have to wonder what Square Enix felt it had to gain from a court case. Is this video really hurting the company's ability to milk insane amounts of money out off the Final Fantasy franchise? Does seeing the video makes someone less likely to buy a copy of Advent Children? What's next, a legal case against the makers of College Saga? We just hope the negative PR associated with this case is worth the massive $17,000 pay day Square Enix made off of it.

Continue reading Square wins plagiarism case against Korean music video

JoystiqSquare wins plagiarism case against Korean music video originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advent childrenAdventChildrencourtenixfinal fantasyFinal Fantasy VIIfinal fantasy7FinalFantasyFinalFantasy7FinalFantasyViikorealawlegalplagiarismPS2PS3PSPsquaresquare enixSquareEnixTue, 11 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Counterfeiter ordered to pay Nintendo 2.5 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/counterfeiter-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-2-5-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/counterfeiter-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-2-5-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/counterfeiter-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-2-5-million/#commentsFiled under: ,

A Uruguayan Civil Court Judge recently ordered a major counterfeiter of Nintendo games to pay the company 2.5 million U.S. dollars in damages and legal expenses. We're not talking about a few downloaded ROMs or flash carts packed with emulators. The defender and three of his related corporations were deemed responsible for the sale of tens of thousands of counterfeit Nintendo games.

Counterfeiting on this scale hurts everyone. In China alone, piracy accounted for $762 million in stolen booty last year, which is no small sum of cash. It also makes baby kittens cry. People who make kitties cry should lose large amounts of money.

JoystiqCounterfeiter ordered to pay Nintendo 2.5 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscounterfeitcourtlegalnintendopiracyuruguayThu, 05 Jul 2007 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's hottest game video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/todays-hottest-game-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/todays-hottest-game-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/todays-hottest-game-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yes, we know, it's more Jack Thompson than you care to stomach. But it's also a hidden camera view inside the contempt of court hearings. If you can get past the terrible first three minutes of the video, which concern the cameraman being late to the hearing, and the godawful audio, then you'll finally be rewarded with a few shots of Thompson looking like he has an Xbox 360 power brick up his ass, a bailiff who looks like he could be taken out by a strong cough, and one of the squeakiest chairs in the world.

Things finally get interesting around 9:20 when Thompson starts holding up his stupid sign (how long until someone Photoshops this?), and the judge gets very pissed off. Thompson does look like the surliest mofo on the planet, and the only game he's probably ever played must have been checkers. We have no doubt he was around when they invented it. On second thought, he probably decried it as the devil's tool, since it mixes colors, and he went on a campaign around his neighborhood on the back of a horseless carriage telling people to stop playing it.

At 14:20, the genius cameraman (or the guy next him) has his cell phone goes off, and he has to bolt from the room. That's about as action packed as this video gets.

Please, invest in a microphone so we don't all go deaf. Then again, that's about the last Thompson video we'll be watching unless he's a playable character in an upcoming fighting game.

Video is after the jump, enjoy the new legal hotness.

Continue reading Today's hottest game video

JoystiqToday's hottest game video originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BullycontemptcourthearingJack ThompsonJackThompsonvideovideo gameYouTubeSat, 28 Oct 2006 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Florida court OKs Bully]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/13/florida-court-oks-bully/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/13/florida-court-oks-bully/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/13/florida-court-oks-bully/#commentsFiled under: ,

Destructoid has the scoop straight from the Florida courthouse where Judge Ronald Friedman has just declared that he will not honor Jack Thompson's request to restrict sales of Bully in advance of the game's shipment next Tuesday. The ruling comes after the judge viewed a demonstration of various parts of the game by a Take Two employee for two hours and determined "there's nothing in the game that you wouldn't see on TV every night." He added that he would not approve of the game for his children, but that fact alone "shouldn't mean that the game won't ship."

While the case could still be appealed, Destructoid notes that Thompson expressed no interest in doing so because any appellate ruling would come after the game was already in stores. So while this doesn't necessarily mean that our favorite lawyer will "drop the whole thing," as he put it, it does mean that the path is clear for the game to reach stores.

JoystiqFlorida court OKs Bully originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bullycanis canum editCanisCanumEditcourtjack thompsonJackThompsonjudgelegalpoliticsPS2rockstarrulingthompsonFri, 13 Oct 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS2 is not a computer, says Lord Justice [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/ps2-is-not-a-computer-says-lord-justice/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/ps2-is-not-a-computer-says-lord-justice/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/ps2-is-not-a-computer-says-lord-justice/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After a lengthy journey through legal loopholes and import tax laws, an English court has come to the conclusion that the PS2 is not, in fact, an "automatic data processing machine". This doesn't come as a revelation to Sony but rather, a crushing disappointment in a campaign that might have netted them a hefty 63 million dollars (or 50 million Euro). Had Sony's lawyerbots managed to fool convince the powers that be of the PS2's true computer lineage, the corporation would have received a huge tax refund on import duties, as computers (real ones) didn't fall under that particular tax umbrella between 2001 and 2003.

The Court of Appeal's heroically labeled Lord Justice Chadwick wasn't best pleased by Sony's "skeleton" arguments, noting that they went "beyond what can be regarded as acceptable written advocacy" and exceeded "the bounds of propriety." If there's anything we've learned over the years, it's that one should never cross a man who wields a tiny hammer. It simply isn't a VAIOble strategy. (Sorry.)

All of this comes on the heels of Ken Kutaragi's insistence that the PS3 is "clearly a computer." It's okay, Ken. You can drop the act now. European import tax on video game consoles dropped to zero percent in 2004.

[Update 1: Clarified our amusement at the "Lord Justice" label. Surely, he must be a superhero of some sorts.]

JoystiqPS2 is not a computer, says Lord Justice [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CourtImport TaxImportTaxJustice ChadwickJusticeChadwickKen KutaragiKenKutaragiMacPCPS2SonyTue, 20 Jun 2006 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/#commentsRevised PS3 pad rear-view shot
In a shocking turn of events, the PS3 controller has gone from banamerang to wireless DualShock 3, except without the DualShock name and vibration.

If you take a good look at the back of the new control pad (see the close-up above), you'll notice that the DualShock 2 brand name imprinted on the old controller has now been supplanted by a row of LED lights to show which input has been set, either wirelessly or via the wired USB recharge port. Sony's now the only name in-line for PS3 controllers either on the pad or in the press releases (see "the new PS3 controller").

Continue reading PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity

JoystiqPS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 May 2006 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360adaptadaptedadaptsadoptadoptedadoptsanalogbanamerangbananabatarangbatteriesbatteryBluetoothboomerangbrand nameBrandNamebumpercasecasingconnectconnectivitycontrol padcontrollercontrollersControlPadcourtdetectdetectingdetectionDual ShockDual Shock 2Dual Shock 3DualShockDualShock 2DualShock 3DualShock2DualShock3force feedbackforce-feedbackForceFeedbackfunctionalityGuidehaptichardwareImmersionin-lineincorporateinputinterfacelaterallawsuitLEDLED lightsLedLightsmanufacturermotionnamenewNintendooldpadpatentpitchPlayStationPlayStation 2Playstation2portpredecessorpress releasepress releasesPressReleasePressReleasesPS2rechargeRevolutionrollrumblesensingshouldersix-axisSonysupporttriggerUSBUSB recharge portUsbRechargePortvibrationweighweighsWiiWii-moteWiimotewiredwirelesswirelesslyX-Y-ZXboxXbox 360Xbox LiveXbox360XboxLiveyawTue, 09 May 2006 00:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocking DualShock case still not going Sony's way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/13/shocking-dualshock-case-still-not-going-sonys-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/13/shocking-dualshock-case-still-not-going-sonys-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/13/shocking-dualshock-case-still-not-going-sonys-way/#commentsA DualShock 2 controller and a judge's gavelSony's attempt to overturn the 2004 ruling on Immersion's haptic technology patents and receive a new trial was denied in court recently.

The Wall Street Journal tells quite a tale concerning another force-feedback inventor, originally a paid consultant of Immersion, who allegedly received advance royalties from Sony in exchange for testimony against his former client. There's enough drama in this case to fill a television soap opera--or, better yet, a police or crime-scene procedural.

For the full contents of the article, you'll need to log in as a subscriber to the Journal through the picture above or the Read link below. We don't know to what extent this courtroom drama will affect the "boomerang" PS3 prototype controller design, future DualShock 2 availability and compatibility, or any possible delays to the new system itself, but Sony's separate appeal in federal court has yet to be ruled on, leaving the company one more crucial legal avenue to pursue in this matter.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqShocking DualShock case still not going Sony's way originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Mar 2006 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealcontrollercourtdelaydesignDualShockfederalforce feedbackForceFeedbackhaptic technologyHapticTechnologyImmersionlegal avenueLegalAvenueoverturnpatentrulingsoap operaSoapOperatrialWall Street JournalWallStreetJournalMon, 13 Mar 2006 20:27:00 EST