Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

March 17, 2011

California Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle has ruled (without commenting on the merits of the case) that Activision has provided enough evidence to allow its $400 million lawsuit against Electronic Arts to go forward. The case is tied to Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vince Zampella. A trial is tentatively scheduled to begin sometime in May.

Activision has accused EA of helping West and Zampella breach their contract, that EA received confidential information from the Infinity Ward founders, and that the duo held back the release of Modern Warfare 2 DLC to benefit the release of an EA game. Activision added EA to its long-running legal battle with West and Zempella as counter-claim to their lawsuit. West and Zampella filed a $36 million lawsuit against Activision, claiming they had been let go to avoid making royalty payments on Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Around 38 other former Infinity Ward employees added themselves as plaintiffs alongside West and Zampella, accusing Activision of holding the development team "hostage" by withholding agreed payments until the completion of Modern Warfare 3.

Expect this case to be a blood bath no matter how it turns out.

Source: GI.biz

Posted in Activision Call of Duty series Court Cases

Comments

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by Grif on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 15:24.

It's like a fight between Satan and Jack Thompson. No matter who wins, everyone else loses.

"Power means nothing without honor and pride."

http://grifsgamereviews.blogspot.com My video game review site.

Atlanta Video Games Examiner for examiner.com

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by Shahab on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 14:58.

I hate to say this but Activision and EA are both huge, corporate, and EVIL.

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by DorthLous on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 14:10.

200/400...

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by killatia on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 12:31.

I hope Activision loses big time in this case, they need to be taken downa few pegs.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by Ashkihyena on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 12:25.

Take them down EA, take them down, and yes, I hate to say I'm rooting for EA giving their SecuRom shinagins, but unfortunly, they're the lesser of two evils in this case.

Re: Judge Greenlights $200 Million Activision-EA Lawsuit

Submitted by axiomatic on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 12:20.

I'm rooting for West and Zampella (and begrudginly EA.)

Regardless of whatever West and Zampella did or did not do, the other developers at Infinity Ward did not deserve the treatment Activision/Kotick gave them.

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DorthLous: Actually, nop, I did miss the emoticon for some reason (getting used to pics?) and I didn't know you changed it since (since I posted previous to my shout and it was still there.) Anyhow, thanks for taking it out!05/23/2012 - 6:01pm

james_fudge: Well we were just testing it. but it is still on the submission to fight $pam.05/23/2012 - 5:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: James, No I don't have it. I was just wondering who does and why. More curiosity than anything.05/23/2012 - 5:38pm

james_fudge: Did you not see the emoticon and did you not see that it has already been changed back?05/23/2012 - 5:10pm

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DorthLous: Why? Not shocked that people are barking to an additional hoop to jump through when posting from their already logged in account or just mentionning this to try to paint me as one always complaining?05/23/2012 - 4:45pm

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james_fudge: Et tu EZK?!?05/23/2012 - 3:51pm

Craig R.: I'm a One Man Quorum! And it's working for me now, thanks. :)05/23/2012 - 3:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: How do we determine who get's the game/captcha thingy? Is there a certain posting threshhold users have to meet before it is turned off?05/23/2012 - 2:25pm

james_fudge: Give it a chance, we're still adjusting it ;)05/23/2012 - 11:20am

james_fudge: One does not a Quorum make Craig.05/23/2012 - 11:16am

Craig R.: If I complete the stupid game, and it just deletes my comment, what's the point?05/23/2012 - 11:15am

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Craig R.: FCC boss is giving the thumbs up to usage-based pricing for Internet access05/23/2012 - 11:08am

Andrew Eisen: beemoh - Yeah, Miyamoto was awarded the Spanish prize for Communication and Humanities.05/23/2012 - 10:36am

beemoh: UK READERS: Sky Arts to broadcast complete Video Games Live concert this Friday at 9PM. Repeat 7AM the day after.05/23/2012 - 10:09am

beemoh: Miyamoto seems to have been awardsed something- he was just trending worldwide on Twitter, and all the tweets were in what looked like Spanish.05/23/2012 - 7:07am

Michael Chandra: Think so yes, since the judge didn't allow them to add ips at will. :P05/23/2012 - 6:23am

All shouts

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