While Certain NES patents have expired, others have not. Expired patents do not negated copyright, trade-mark and trade secret protections.
Source: GamaSutra Feature
Michigan Game Law Temporarily Blocked
Text of Preliminary Injunction
District Court judge prevents ban on sales of violent games to minors from taking effect, says the act is “unlikely to survive strict scrutiny.
Sources: Gamespot | GameDaily.biz | Gamasutra | Next-gen.biz | 1Up.com
GamePolitics Full Coverage Of Michigan’s Violent Video Game Law
Related Posts:
- Michigan Game Law Permanently Blocked (April 3, 2006)
- Michigan Game Law Temporarily Blocked (November 9, 2006)
- Michigan Governor Signs Violent Games Bill, ESA Files Suit (September 14, 2005)
Sony Settles PS2 Class Action Suit
Ruling on infamous “disc read error” issue could give qualifying PS2 owners $25, a free game, free repairs, or a replacement system. Canadian and U.S. courts must approve the settlement before it is finalized.Atari Sued over RollerCoaster Tycoon Royalty Dispute
Atari is being sued by RollerCoaster Tycoon developer Chris Sawyer for between $4.8 & $5.2 M U.S. (depending on the report) plus interest in alleged unpaid royalties. Sawyer alleges Atari breached its contract by failing to to give his auditors access to Atari’s accounts between 1999-2001.
Sources: CNet | GameIndustry.biz | The Inquirer
Developer Chris Sawyer Sues Atari in Royalties Dispute
Game developer Chris Sawyer is suing Atari for $5 million U.S.D. after forensic accountant audited reveals royalty payment shortfalls. Atari had petitioned the British High Court to choose New York as the appropriate forum. The court disagreed and the case will proceed in Britain.
Sources: Gamasutra | gamingindustry.biz | Gamespot | GameDaily
Region Coding for PS3 Unlikely
Sony likely to change its PS3 region coding practice after loosing Australian modding decision.
Dale’s Comment: While Sony may be able to limit or remove region coding technology for PS3-based video games, they will not have the legal right to remove region-coding from regular DVD and Blu-ray DVD movies that will also be playable in the PS3.
Sources: Australian IT | CVG | joystiq | neoseeker | The Register UK | PS3 Today
Thompson Exits GTA Cop Killer Case
Controversial lawyer representing families of two police officers killed by GTA-playing Devin Moore, removed himself from GTA case following allegations of professional misconduct.
Sources: gamesindustry.biz | Gamasutra | Next-Gen.biz | Wikipedia Entry on Thompson
Related Posts:
- Alabama Supreme Court Rejects Another Motion to Dismiss Take-Two/GTA Slaying Case (March 29, 2006)
- Civil Suit in Alabama Goes Forward (December 14, 2005)
- Alabama Judge Revokes Thompson’s Temporary License (November 19, 2005)
- Thompson Exits GTA Cop Killer Case (November 7, 2005)
- Thompson Comes Under Fire (November 7, 2005)
- Judge Asked to Dismiss GTA Case (November 5, 2005)
- Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in Last 10 Years (October 11, 2005)
- Judge Sentences GTA Gamer to Death (October 7, 2005)
- Killer Convicted, Despite GTA Insanity Defense (August 10, 2005)
- Grand Theft Auto Sparks Another Game Violence Lawsuit (February 14, 2005)
Developers Threaten Digital Jesters with Legal Action
The UK Game publisher Digital Jesters has been accused by game developers of breaking contracts, failing to account for royalties, failing to pay game studios and otherwise breaching their contracts.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
Related Posts:
- Digital Jesters Wound-Up by British Court (January 11, 2006)
- Super X Parts Ways with Publisher Digital Jesters (December 1, 2005)
- Kylotonn Severs Digital Jesters Ties (November 23, 2005)
- Developers Threaten Digital Jesters with Legal Action (November 7, 2005)
Judge Asked to Dismiss GTA Case
A judge was asked to dismiss a civil suit filed by the families of two Fayette police officers and a dispatcher against the makers and sellers of “Grand Theft Auto” video games that allegedly influenced a man to shoot the three to death.
Sources: Game Cube Advanced | The Decatur Daily
Related Posts:
- Alabama Supreme Court Rejects Another Motion to Dismiss Take-Two/GTA Slaying Case (March 29, 2006)
- Civil Suit in Alabama Goes Forward (December 14, 2005)
- Alabama Judge Revokes Thompson’s Temporary License (November 19, 2005)
- Thompson Exits GTA Cop Killer Case (November 7, 2005)
- Thompson Comes Under Fire (November 7, 2005)
- Judge Asked to Dismiss GTA Case (November 5, 2005)
- Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in Last 10 Years (October 11, 2005)
- Judge Sentences GTA Gamer to Death (October 7, 2005)
- Killer Convicted, Despite GTA Insanity Defense (August 10, 2005)
- Grand Theft Auto Sparks Another Game Violence Lawsuit (February 14, 2005)
EFF Label’s Blizzard’s Anti-cheat Warden Program – “Spyware”
Unbeknownst to many gamers, World of Warcraft now has an unwanted special feature—a hidden program called “Warden” that snoops gamers’ computers looking for any “unauthorized third-party program” that “enables or facilitates cheating of any type”.
Sources: EFF | BBC | Game Politics | Rootkit.com | AlterNet
Related Posts:
- EFF Label’s Blizzard’s Anti-cheat Warden Program – “Spyware” (October 20, 2005)
- Player’s Say Blizzard’s Anti-cheat Warden Program Invades Privacy (August 12, 2005)
ESA Launches Legal Action against California’s Violent Games Bill
ESA and the Video Software Dealers Association to file a lawsuit protesting against California’s AB1179 bill, restricting the sale of violent games to minors.
Sources: gamesindustry.biz | Gamasutra | Gamespot | VSDA Press Release | IEMA also announces Intent to Fight (joystiq) | Yee, Schwarzenegger Respond
GamePolitics Full Coverage Of California’s Violent Video Game Law
Related Posts:
- Yee, Schwarzennegger Comment on California Injunction (December 28, 2005)
- Judge Halts Implementation of California Violent Game Bill (December 22, 2005)
- ESA Launches Legal Action Against California’s Violent Game Bill (October 18, 2005)
- Schwarzenegger Signs Game-restriction Bill (October 7, 2005)
Texas Video Game Pirate Sentenced
Texan, Ponce de Leon, is sentenced to three years, ten months in prison and ordered to pay a $1.154 million fine for criminal video game piracy over the Internet.
Sources: U.S. Immigration & Customs | Gamasutra | Gamespot | Next Generation
Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in last 10 Years
Contrary to pop-culture beliefs, this article makes the case, complete with FBI statistics, that juvenile violent crime has decreased in the last 10 years as video game playing by young people has increased.
Sources: Game Evolution | ars Technica | Wellesley College Newspaper
See also: Related August 12, Gamasutra Article
EA Faces a Third Employment-Related Class-Action Suit in Florida (Tam Su)
Text of Tam Su Class-Action Complaint Within a week of EA's settlement of the Kirschenbaum class-action suit, Tam Su's over-time law suit emerges. The original suit was filed in February 2005 Sources: GamePolitics.com | Edge Online Activision (Canulti):
Activision (Erimez):
EA (Lender Hasty): EA Programmers
- EA Settles Leander Hasty Class Action Labor Lawsuit – Tam Su Suit Still Pending (April 26, 2006)
- "EA Spouse" Revealed to be Erin Hoffman (April 26, 2006)
- Electronic Arts to Institute Limited Overtime Policy (March 10, 2005)
- EA Hit by Second Employee (Leander Hasty) Lawsuit (February 21, 2005)
- The "EA Spouse" Post that Started it All (November 10, 2004)
EA (Tam Su):
- EA Faces a Third Employment-Related Class-Action Suit in Florida (Tam Su) (October 11, 2005)
EA (Kirschenbaum): EA animators, texture artists, and modelers
- EA Settles Kirschenbaum Labor Dispute Lawsuit – Hasty Suit Still Pending (October 5, 2005)
- Electronic Arts Faces (Kirschenbaum) Overtime Lawsuit (November 12, 2004)
- The "EA Spouse" Post that Started it All (November 10, 2004)
Sony:
- Sony Computer Entertainment Sued by its Animators and Graphic Artists. (February 11, 2005) – This case is still pending as far as I know.
Schwarzenegger Signs Game-Restriction Bill
Text of Bill
The bill, which comes into force in January 2006, bans the sale or rental of “violent video games” to minors
Sources: Gamespot | Gamasutra | Governor Schwarzenegger’s Press Release
Click Here to Listen to GamePolitic’s October 10, 2005 interview of California Assembly Speaker pro Tem, Leland Yee, about the bill.
GamePolitics Full Coverage Of California’s Violent Video Game Law
Related Posts:
- Yee, Schwarzennegger Comment on California Injunction (December 28, 2005)
- Judge Halts Implementation of California Violent Game Bill (December 22, 2005)
- ESA Launches Legal Action Against California’s Violent Game Bill (October 18, 2005)
- Schwarzenegger Signs Game-restriction Bill (October 7, 2005)
Stanhouse GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Moved to Federal Court
The most recent class action filed in St. Clair County over a controversial rating on a video game has been removed to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act.”
Source: St. Clair Record
New York Investigation:
- Take-Two Receives Subpoenas Over Hot Coffee (June 26, 2006)
LA Civil Suit:
- Yet Another Take-Two/GTA Lawsuit (January 26, 2006)
FTC Investigation Related Posts:
- Take-Two/Rockstar Settle with FTC over Hot Coffee Mod (June 8, 2006)
- Hot Coffee FTC Inquiry Given Go Ahead (July 26, 2005)
Stanhouse Class Action Suit:
- Stanhouse GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Moved to Federal Court (October 7, 2005)
- Another GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Filed (Stanhouse) (September 21, 2005)
Cohen Class Action Suit:
- Grandma Cohen’s GTA Class Action Suit Against Take-Two to Proceed (October 27, 2006)
- Outraged Granny Sues Over grand Theft Auto (Cohen) (July 27, 2005)
Other Hot Coffee Related Posts:
- ESRB Demands U.S. Game Publisher Audits for Hidden Game Content (September 12, 2005)
- ESRB Re-Rates Oblivion to Mature Following 3rd Party Mods (May 3, 2006)
- Take-Two Filing Reveals Multiple Lawsuits (February 1, 2006)
- Hot Coffee Spills into Australia as GTA:San Andreas is Banned (August 1, 2005)
- GTA San Andreas Rerated AO, Take-Two Suspends Production (July 20, 2005)
- Confirmed: ‘Hot Coffee’ Sex Minigame in PS2 GTA: San Andreas (July 15, 2005)
Judge Sentences GTA Gamer to Death
20-year-old, Devin Moore, who attempted to use Grand Theft Auto as defence for triple police homicide was sentenced to death by lethal injection.
Sources: Gamespot | Earlier Gamespot Report on Trial | GameDaily
Related Posts:
- Alabama Supreme Court Rejects Another Motion to Dismiss Take-Two/GTA Slaying Case (March 29, 2006)
- Civil Suit in Alabama Goes Forward (December 14, 2005)
- Alabama Judge Revokes Thompson’s Temporary License (November 19, 2005)
- Thompson Exits GTA Cop Killer Case (November 7, 2005)
- Thompson Comes Under Fire (November 7, 2005)
- Judge Asked to Dismiss GTA Case (November 5, 2005)
- Juvenile Violent Crime Decreases in Last 10 Years (October 11, 2005)
- Judge Sentences GTA Gamer to Death (October 7, 2005)
- Killer Convicted, Despite GTA Insanity Defense (August 10, 2005)
- Grand Theft Auto Sparks Another Game Violence Lawsuit (February 14, 2005)
Activision Countersues Spark
Activision countersues Spark Unlimited alleging fraud, breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and false advertising.
Sources: Gamespot | GameIndustry.biz | Next Generation
Related Posts:
- Activision Countersues Spark (October 6, 2005)
- Independent Developer Spark Sues Activision (August 26, 2005)
Australian High Court Rules PlayStation Region Code Mod Chips Legal
Text of Stevens v. Sony Decision
In Stevens v. Sony, the Australian High Court ruled that modding Playstation consoles to circumvent region coding restrictions does not breach Australian copyright laws.
Sources: High Court Press Release | Freehills | GameIndustry.biz | Gamasutra | PS3Focus.com
Related Posts:
- Australia Copyright Reform to Explicitly Permit Region-Code Mod Chips (December 6, 2006)
- Region Coding for PS3 Unlikely (November 8, 2005)
- Australian High Court Rules Playstation Region Code Mod Chips Legal (October 6, 2005)
- Sony Plans New Legal Challenge to Mod Chips in Australia (March 16, 2005)
- Australian Court Rules Console Modding Legal (July 29, 2002)
EA Settles Kirschenbaum Labor Dispute Lawsuit – Hasty Suit Still Pending
EA to pay $15.6 million in settlement of claim that workers were improperly classified as exempt from overtime.
Sources: gameindustry.biz | EuroGamer | GameSpot | Next-Gen.biz | 1Up.com | GamaSutra | neoseeker
Activision (Canulti):
Activision (Erimez):
EA (Lender Hasty): EA Programmers
- EA Settles Leander Hasty Class Action Labor Lawsuit – Tam Su Suit Still Pending (April 26, 2006)
- “EA Spouse” Revealed to be Erin Hoffman (April 26, 2006)
- Electronic Arts to Institute Limited Overtime Policy (March 10, 2005)
- EA Hit by Second Employee (Leander Hasty) Lawsuit (February 21, 2005)
- The “EA Spouse” Post that Started it All (November 10, 2004)
EA (Tam Su):
- EA Faces a Third Employment-Related Class-Action Suit in Florida (Tam Su) (October 11, 2005)
EA (Kirschenbaum): EA animators, texture artists, and modelers
- EA Settles Kirschenbaum Labor Dispute Lawsuit – Hasty Suit Still Pending (October 5, 2005)
- Electronic Arts Faces (Kirschenbaum) Overtime Lawsuit (November 12, 2004)
- The “EA Spouse” Post that Started it All (November 10, 2004)
Sony:
- Sony Computer Entertainment Sued by its Animators and Graphic Artists. (February 11, 2005) – This case is still pending as far as I know.
id Software Sued by Founder Claiming Unfair Dismissal
Adrian Carmack, one of the original founders of id Software, has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming he has been unfairly dismissed. Carmack claims he was fired as an employee and director after he refused to sell his shares back to the company in the context of possible corporate buyouts.
Sources: 1Up.com | GamaSutra | GameIndustry.biz | GameSpot
The (New) Dawn of Digital Distribution
Every multimedia conglomerate and its sister company wants in on the digital distribution market, but is it finally ready for prime time?
Source: GameSpot | Earlier Related Story: GameSpot (Nov. 9, 2004)
Another GTA San Andreas Class Action Suit Filed (Stanhouse)
Claiming her teen-age children were exposed to sexually explicit content in a popular video game, a concerned mother, Brenda Stanhouse, filed a class action lawsuit in St. Clair County Court against the promoters of “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA).”
Sources: St. Clair Record | GamePolitics.com | Lunabean
New York Investigation:
- Take-Two Receives Subpoenas Over Hot Coffee (June 26, 2006)
LA Civil Suit:
- Yet Another Take-Two/GTA Lawsuit (January 26, 2006)
FTC Investigation Related Posts:
- Take-Two/Rockstar Settle with FTC over Hot Coffee Mod (June 8, 2006)
- Hot Coffee FTC Inquiry Given Go Ahead (July 26, 2005)
Stanhouse Class Action Suit:
- Stanhouse GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Moved to Federal Court (October 7, 2005)
- Another GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Filed (Stanhouse) (September 21, 2005)
Cohen Class Action Suit:
- Grandma Cohen’s GTA Class Action Suit Against Take-Two to Proceed (October 27, 2006)
- Outraged Granny Sues Over grand Theft Auto (Cohen) (July 27, 2005)
Other Hot Coffee Related Posts:
- ESRB Demands U.S. Game Publisher Audits for Hidden Game Content (September 12, 2005)
- ESRB Re-Rates Oblivion to Mature Following 3rd Party Mods (May 3, 2006)
- Take-Two Filing Reveals Multiple Lawsuits (February 1, 2006)
- Hot Coffee Spills into Australia as GTA:San Andreas is Banned (August 1, 2005)
- GTA San Andreas Rerated AO, Take-Two Suspends Production (July 20, 2005)
- Confirmed: ‘Hot Coffee’ Sex Minigame in PS2 GTA: San Andreas (July 15, 2005)
New Jersey To Introduce Violent Game Legislation
New Jersey has become latest state to consider localized legislation against violent or sexually explicit video games, following the announcement of a proposed bill at proceedings being held at the New Jersey Statehouse.
Source: Gamasutra
No Complaints About Manitoba’s Video Game Law
Unlike the continuing battles over this issue in the U.S, a new law restricting sales of violent games to minors that went into force on June 1, 2005 is said to be causing no problems in the Canadian province of Manitoba.
Source: Game Politics
Related Posts:
- No Complaints About Manitoba’s Video Game Law (September 19, 2005)
- Manitoba to Restrict Video Game Rentals to Minors (May 9, 2005)
- New Ontario Video Game Retail Sales Law (March 14, 2005)