Activision confidential emails released by Court (IW lawsuit)

[RoutedScripter]

Hello everyone, time to make fun of blizzard's evil neighbour, Activision.

It's all about the Infinity Ward lawsuit clusterfuck.


I remember some rumblings that Blizzard development employees disliked Activision management too, personal opinion, i don't think Blizz management will be happy with these spreading stories, but the point of this measage is to point out that Blizzard operates relatively independent and hopefully interference-free.

Official: http://documents.latimes.com/activision-e-mails/

Story: http://www.shacknews.com/article/73...ctivision-preparing-for-infinity-ward-fallout

Activision recently paid 49$ million to IWEG (which doesn't include West and Zampella) the consolidated case of Zampella and West with IWEG (40 ex-employees)

The trial starts on 29 May 2012 ... a few days away ... prepare popcorn.

I think all of the 40+ employees in these lawsuits are working at Respawn Entertainment.
Some of the ex-IW employees have not joined Respawn but are also not in the IWEG list, but those aren't key-ones and only a few, one of them was senior, but that's just one afaik.

Here are some useful links:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=128252
http://www.shacknews.com/article/69127/respawn-nabs-40-from-infinity
http://www.shacknews.com/article/63521/current-and-ex-infinity-ward

(it's outdated a bit, Charlie Wieberhold and Kristin Cotterell also respawned)

For the lulz: (warning: may cause severe laugh attack) http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1909891&postcount=60

UPDATE: Forgot to attach this picture from email release:
You guys should see this pic, this is well above industry standard of bonuses, little people get that much and without owning the IP/studio/tech.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

You didn't quote the most pertinent part, that the original 36 mill West and Zamp were suing for has now ballooned to 1 BILL!

As I've said in another forum where this has been discussed...

No matter what's said in those articles, it's going to come down to what actual admissible evidence is revealed in court regarding how severely Activision will be punished, but I DO believe they will be the losing party, and rightfully so. It's starting to sound like the Watergate of gaming, with Kotich sweating as bad as Tricky Dicky was.

For all we know, Zampella and West very well could have breached their contract, but even if they did, Activision will have to prove it with legally obtained evidence, and it's sounding like the brainy IW duo were smart enough to protect themselves in that regard IF they really did such a thing. So smart that it sounds like they had the Acti goons looking like Keystone Cops. LOL

 

[RoutedScripter]

I've read about it, was linked, but i've never found the source.

Today i've read about it again, linked by people and references in articles, i went to find it, and then to the Activision SEC filling, i've selected the top february sec filling, and I didn't found anything where it says 1 billion.

I took calendar fiscal Q4 as so ... it said about the legal proceedings and mentioned 300$million, i haven't found any "billion"-s.

Maybe i need to look in the 2011 Q4 ... so as far as i seen, i haven't found billon.

 

[lyndonguitar]

Money money money, cant get enough of it. EA, Blizzard, Activision, etc, I suspect EA is behind all this.

I wonder what Respawn and EA are planning next

only companies I like is Valve, Rockstar and Bethesda

 

[Xzibit]

Didnt Valve recently win the DoTA lawsuit from Activision/Blizzard. They settled out of court with Valve pertains legal right to market and sell while Activision/Blizzard can only use DoTA for non-profitable entities. They can only promote their past affiliation but cant market or sell DoTA.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I've read about it, was linked, but i've never found the source.

Today i've read about it again, linked by people and references in articles, i went to find it, and then to the Activision SEC filling, i've selected the top february sec filling, and I didn't found anything where it says 1 billion.

I took calendar fiscal Q4 as so ... it said about the legal proceedings and mentioned 300$million, i haven't found any "billion"-s.

Maybe i need to look in the 2011 Q4 ... so as far as i seen, i haven't found billon.

Here's where I read it. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...ay-as-warfare-trial-claims-hit-1-billion.html

1 billion doesn't sound all that far fetched when you consider last report on MW 2 profits were 1.5 billion. It may not be the amount they actually get, but I don't think them suing for that much would be all that crazy considering all the people royalties and bonuses are owed to.

There's also the fact that Activision wasn't even supposed to release any CoD/MW content without IW's consent, but they went on to do it more than once with expansions and such made by other teams. So part of the suit could be for equivalent damages vs actual profits lost in royalties and bonuses.

In cases such as these, monetary amounts can pile up faster than medical expenses for the terminally ill.

 

[lyndonguitar]

Didnt Valve recently win the DoTA lawsuit from Activision/Blizzard. They settled out of court with Valve pertains legal right to market and sell while Activision/Blizzard can only use DoTA for non-profitable entities. They can only promote their past affiliation but cant market or sell DoTA.

at least im certain that dota 2 will not be a let down, and its gonna be released as FREE to play.

if i could choose who will make dota 2,diablo 4, starcraft 3, or warcraft 4, id choose valve over blizzard anyday

 

[RoutedScripter]

Didnt Valve recently win the DoTA lawsuit from Activision/Blizzard. They settled out of court with Valve pertains legal right to market and sell while Activision/Blizzard can only use DoTA for non-profitable entities. They can only promote their past affiliation but cant market or sell DoTA.

Yes but this has nothing to do with dota, blizzard has nothing to do with this case.

 

[RoutedScripter]

Here's where I read it. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...ay-as-warfare-trial-claims-hit-1-billion.html

1 billion doesn't sound all that far fetched when you consider last report on MW 2 profits were 1.5 billion. It may not be the amount they actually get, but I don't think them suing for that much would be all that crazy considering all the people royalties and bonuses are owed to.

There's also the fact that Activision wasn't even supposed to release any CoD/MW content without IW's consent, but they went on to do it more than once with expansions and such made by other teams. So part of the suit could be for equivalent damages vs actual profits lost in royalties and bonuses.

In cases such as these, monetary amounts can pile up faster than medical expenses for the terminally ill.

This looks like media fact from the guts, there is no source that I can see, sorry. Obviously they won't get what they ask for, but something at least.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Seeing that chart for Infinity Ward employee compensation, it isn't surprising at all that Activision wanted to dump them. Those bonuses are ridiculous.

 

[DannibusX]

I've read sources that say they upped the damages to one billion, namely Bloomberg, and it makes sense.

Part of the case against Activision is that West and Zampella were supposedly given the rights to the Modern Warfare brand which would mean that they are entitled to damages from MW3.

It's an interesting case for sure. I hope West and Zampella win.