Activision fait entrer EA dans le procès contre les ex-boss d'Infinity Wards ( Jason West et Vince Zampella ) en les accusant d'avoir arrangé un retard du 1er Map Pack Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 avec ces derniers. Activision demande 400 millions si j'ai bien compris.
Activision se base sur un email envoyé par Lincoln Hershberger ( senior director of global marketing chez EA ) a Vince Zampella peu avant la sortie de Bad Company 2.
I asked Vince [Zampella] to hold back their map pack [allegedly Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package] until after we launched (he owes me one). Given that they've already made a billion, he was cool with that, obviously [Activision CEO Bobby] Kotick took it as being belligerent."
Activision prend au sérieux l'email même si EA parle d'humour.
EA spokesman Jeff Brown told Gamasutra that the email was meant to be a joke. "This was obviously sarcasm," he said. "It's clear from the email this was a joke and they never spoke. We explained this to lawyers at Activision -- who apparently don't have much of a sense of humor."
Pour activision les motivations étaient: "booster leur jeu concurrent mais moins populaire"
Activision accuse EA d'avoir encouragé Jason West et Vince Zampella a rompre leur contrat ( il leur restait 2 ans ) et d'avoir voulut détruire Infinity Wards. Activision dénonce aussi des conduites illégales des hauts dirigeant de EA avec JW et VZ qui aurait été invité chez Riccitiello ( boss de EA ).
Schappert: "Suggest Frank join - let's chat to close ..."
Riccitiello: "Excellent. You should meet them separate and join me. More angles is good."
Schappert: "Fyi, looks like Seamus has it in hand and Vince/Jason are aligned, which is good."
At the time, West and Zampella were under representation by Seamus Blackley of Creative Artists Agency.
Just a few days after the email exchange between the executives, EA allegedly sent over a private jet to fly West and Zampella from Southern California to San Francisco to have a "secret meeting" at the home of Riccitiello. Activision alleges the meeting was to discuss partnering with EA, its main rival.
Autre exemple d'email:
Another previously-redacted email from CAA's Blackley to Riccitiello said, "We need to talk to our two friends down here -- all is good but it's time for a more aggressive approach."
Etc... !
Ce procès est une réponse aux plaintes pour "breach of contract and other claims" de JW et VZ. Un representant d'Activision s'est justifié en disant qu'ils avaient du prendre cette difficile mais nécessaire décision afin de protéger leurs droits et propriétés intellectuelles face à la découverte des conduites illégales d'EA.