Video Games Are Serious Business: Activision vs. Infinity Ward

by Bill Hess

Activision recently asked a federal judge for permission to file an amendment to their lawsuit against the former heads of Infinity Ward.  Now, Activision wants to include publishing giant, Electronic Arts.  This would make them a defendant in the case, and Activision believes that EA urged Zampella and West to break the existing contract they were under.  Noted in the legal filing, Electronic Arts and the defendants West and Zampella conspired to form an independent company.

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Among the other notes are the shady business tactics that Electronic Arts used to entice the developers, such as a private jet for secret meetings with the CEO, and off the record email correspondence.  In Activision’s complaint they are searching for compensation of $400 million in punitive damages.  Since the initial news was released, EA has since responded to the complaint.  It was dismissed as a public relations play, petty, and inaccurate.

What Activision doesn’t mention in the fact that they want $400 million in damages, is that they owe West and Zampella from work done in their time with the company.

On a side note, I am extremely pleased with Google’s “Feeling Lucky” Technology.  I will not be filing my pending lawsuit. One more cat picture Google and I swear we’re going to legal blows.

- This article was updated on July 24th, 2021