Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bethesda and Interplay settle Fallout MMO lawsuits, Interplay's rights revoked]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/bethesda-and-interplay-settle-fallout-mmo-lawsuits-interplays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/bethesda-and-interplay-settle-fallout-mmo-lawsuits-interplays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/bethesda-and-interplay-settle-fallout-mmo-lawsuits-interplays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bethesda and Interplay have been embroiled in a legal battle for quite some time now, arguing over whether or not Interplay had the rights to create a Fallout MMO. Well, that lawsuit has finally been settled and it appears that Bethesda has come out on top. In a press release today, Bethesda announced that "under the terms of the settlement, the license granted to Interplay to develop the Fallout MMO is null and void, and all rights granted to Interplay to develop a Fallout MMO revert back to Bethesda, effective immediately." Bethesda fails to make any mention of whether or not the studio will use its freshly re-acquired rights in order to actually make a Fallout MMO, however, so the future of the online wasteland remains in flux.

[Source: Bethesda Game Studios press release]

MassivelyBethesda and Interplay settle Fallout MMO lawsuits, Interplay's rights revoked originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-game-studiosbethesda-softworksfalloutfallout-mmofallout-onlineindustryinterplayinterplay-entertainmentlawsuitlawsuitslegalmmo-industrysettlementsettlementsMon, 09 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda vs. Interplay case finally settled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/bethesda-vs-interplay-case-finally-settled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/bethesda-vs-interplay-case-finally-settled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/bethesda-vs-interplay-case-finally-settled/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fallout
War. War never changes. And neither, it appeared, would the long-running legal dispute between Bethesda and Interplay over the rights to the Fallout IP. For years, it seems, we've been reporting on this courtroom tug-o-war between the companies which has kept the fate of Fallout Online in limbo.

Well it looks like it is finally over, one way or another. An administrator on the Fallout fan site Duck and Cover says that a settlement has been reached although the details have yet to emerge to the public:
Today, DAC has confirmation that a settlement has, in fact, taken place. It actually took place the day of the trial -- and had I been able to get online and sort through the documents I would have reported as much. We do not yet have the details of the settlement -- they will be announced this month (January 2012) -- but we can report that on the day of trial, the atmosphere in the court room was tense until the judge recessed. This recess was extended, and then they recessed for lunch. After the lunch recess, the court room was locked to everyone except attorneys and clients. When our source asked why this was the case, our source was told it was because they were working out a settlement. The following day, another source called the court reporter to ask what the next hearing schedule for the case was -- this source was told there was no schedule as a settlement had been reached.
We'll be following this story as it develops to see how it affects the potential Fallout Online and what each studio is walking away with from this bitter dispute.

MassivelyBethesda vs. Interplay case finally settled originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworkscourtcourt-caseduck-and-coverfalloutfallout-ipfallout-onlineinterplayIPlegallegal-battlesettlesettlementTue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Firefall screenshot
Remember back in July, when Red 5 Studios was all like, "You're not advertising our upcoming game enough, Webzen!", and then Webzen was all like, "We gave you several million dollars, and we're still waiting for this game you said you're working on!"? Well, it turns out both parties have decided to put the whole thing behind them, and live happily ever after.

According to a press release, "Webzen will receive compensation for the prior development fees paid to Red 5 and also will share in future revenue generated from Red 5's game entitled Firefall for a certain period of time." This settlement will also give Red 5 complete global publishing rights to Firefall and relieve Webzen of all advertising involvement.

MassivelyRed 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disputefirefalllegalred-5-studiossettlementwebzenThu, 29 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Never say Neverwinter: Cryptic forced to delay D&D RPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/never-say-neverwinter-cryptic-forced-to-delay-dandd-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/never-say-neverwinter-cryptic-forced-to-delay-dandd-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/never-say-neverwinter-cryptic-forced-to-delay-dandd-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Neverwinter
Fans -- and general looky-loos -- anticipating Cryptic's next game will have to wait a little while longer. Neverwinter has been officially delayed following a bout of legal mumbo jumbo involving Atari and Hasbro struggling over the Dungeons & Dragons license.

While the two companies have finally settled this long-running dispute, Atari's sale of Cryptic to Perfect World Entertainment has come with a catch regarding its Neverwinter project. Due to the new ownership, Perfect World is demanding Cryptic work on "a more immersive experience" for Neverwinter and is thus pushing the cooperative RPG's release from the formerly announced 2011 launch window to late 2012.

The settlement means that Hasbro will regain the digital licensing rights to D&D, but Atari can still sell and develop some titles under that umbrella. Cryptic Studios was acquired by Perfect World earlier this month for a whopping $49.8 million.

MassivelyNever say Neverwinter: Cryptic forced to delay D&D RPG originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012atarid-and-ddelaydnddungeons-and-dragonshasbrolawsuitlegallegal-battlelicensemumbo-jumboneverwinterperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentreleasesettlementMon, 15 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Quest Online legal drama ends in settlement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/quest-online-legal-drama-ends-in-settlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/quest-online-legal-drama-ends-in-settlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/quest-online-legal-drama-ends-in-settlement/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Months of legal wrangling, accusations of corporate incompetence, and rampant bickering -- all performed as publicly as humanly possible -- is finally over. Derek Smart and David Allen have probably not settled their personal differences, but at least they've settled the ongoing legal issue.

Derek Smart posted the news on his personal blog last night: "At approximately 7PM EST on Sept 27th, 2010, the lawsuit between Quest Online LLC and David Allen was settled with the purchase of Allen's equity in the LLC; thus he is no longer associated with Quest Online. "

Smart also promises a press release later this week, and hopefully it signals the end of the public drama. And hopefully we never have to speak of it again. Ever. Seriously.

MassivelyQuest Online legal drama ends in settlement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganondavid-allenderek-smartlegalqolquest-onlinesettlementWed, 29 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


It seems to be a World of Lawsuits (TM) recently in our industry. Bloggers are being sued for libel, NCsoft is being sued for patent infringement, Linden Labs is being sued for trademark violations, Turbine is suing Atari, and now five companies are all being sued over a patent dispute.

The Boston Globe has reported that Paltalk Holdings Inc. has filed a complaint in Texas against Sony Corp., Activision Blizzard Inc., Turbine Inc., NCsoft Corp., and Jagex Ltd. all for games that violate their patent on computers sharing data so that all users can see the same virtual environment. The games in question are EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars, and RuneScape (in order of the companies as named above.)

What makes this lawsuit different from the standard patent shakedowns that we've been reporting on is that the patent has already been successfully used in court. Paltalk has already sued, and won against, Microsoft.

Continue reading Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit

MassivelySony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingeverquestguild-warshalohalo-2jagexlawsuitlegallord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftncsoftpaltalksettlementsoesony-corpturbineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST