Joystiq

Ubisoft on offense in novelist lawsuit, files to throw out claims

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:30:00 EST

Ubisoft has filed a complaint to prevent novelist John Beiswenger from renewing his claims that the Assassin's Creed universe stole ideas from his novel, Link. Beiswenger first sued Ubisoft in April, but dropped the lawsuit earlier this week because he couldn't handle the expense of litigation.

Beiswenger dismissed the Ubisoft case "without prejudice," meaning he can pick up the charges and pursue litigation at any time, and Ubisoft is looking to have the case found "frivolous and without merit," Gamasutra reports.

Ubisoft's complaint argues that Beiswenger's claims of copyright infringement are based on "patently non-copyrightable elements." His claims include "assassins" and "spiritual and biblical tones."

Ubisoft on offense in novelist lawsuit, files to throw out claims originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lawsuit alleging copyright infringement in Assassin's Creed dropped, Gametrailers settles

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:40:00 EST

Novelist John Beiswenger has dropped the lawsuit against Ubisoft, in which he alleged the Assassin's Creed universe stole ideas from one of his books, Link. Gametrailers, whom Beiswenger sued in the same case, settled with the author on May 18 under undisclosed terms.

Beiswenger voluntarily dismissed all action against Ubisoft before any formal adjudication on the validity of his claims could begin - the Internet made up its mind about his claims a while ago. Beiswenger has dropped the case, citing the expense of federal litigation:

"I filed the Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction in federal court because I believe authors should vigorously defend their rights in their creative works; otherwise, the laws protecting them simply have no purpose," Beiswenger's official statement reads. "Regrettably, the resources required to defend those rights are unavailable to many individual creators. As a result, rampant infringement is occurring with impunity."

Beiswenger was seeking $5.25 million in damages and the potential cessation of all Assassin's Creed endeavors, including the third game currently due out in October. Beiswenger filed the dismissal "without prejudice," meaning he can pick up the claims and the case again in the future.

If he ever does, we don't think Ubisoft will sweat it too much; the Internet has already done most of the debunking already, unless Beiswenger can somehow prove that he owns the rights to "spiritual and biblical tones" or "assassinations."

Continue reading Lawsuit alleging copyright infringement in Assassin's Creed dropped, Gametrailers settles

Lawsuit alleging copyright infringement in Assassin's Creed dropped, Gametrailers settles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gate Five's lawsuit against Beyonce going to court

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:00:00 EST

Manhattan judge Charles Ramos has ruled that Gate Five's lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles is sufficiently jelly prepared, and as such will be heading to court at some unspecified date in the future. Justice Ramos agreed with Gate Five's assertion that Beyonce did not give proper notice before backing out of the deal: "You continue to negotiate right up until the time you pull the plug," Ramos said as he addressed Beyonce's lawyers, according to the New York Post. "That is not going to work with me."

As you'll recall, Gate Five's lawsuit purports that Beyonce was in breach of contract when she backed out of a deal to lend her likeness to Starpower: Beyonce, and that her departure from the project directly resulted in the firings of 70 employees. Beyonce's attorneys attest that Gate Five did not have funding in place for Starpower: Beyonce's development, but Gate Five maintains that Beyonce was aware of an impending agreement with unnamed financiers scheduled to take place on December 6, 2010 - just three days after Beyonce bounced.

Gate Five's lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $100 million; $6.7 million in investment capitol and $100 million in hypothetical Starpower: Beyonce profits. Honestly, Gate Five should have known something was up when Beyonce didn't put a ring on it.

Gate Five's lawsuit against Beyonce going to court originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo sued over touch-screen technology

Phil Larsen — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

Another day, another lawsuit for Nintendo. Their wacky ideas have probably been done in some form or another over the years, and now everyone wants a profitable piece of the action. The latest candidate for a chunk of Nintendo's payroll is John R. Martin, who claims to have patented touch-screen and pointing gaming technology in 2005. One year after the DS was released. Despite being a bit late, the origins of the patent date back to 1995, so it's fair game for the courts now.

This image was submitted with the patent filing, apparently showing a device "switchable between an amusement mode and a gaming or gambling mode." The whole touching thing can be found under "operating a touch screen on a CRT or ICD." But gambling? Looks like that diagram is for someone who hides stuff under the table to cheat at blackjack or roulette.

Nintendo has denied the infringement, while Martin is pursuing another suit against Apple.

Nintendo sued over touch-screen technology originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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