In what is now fast becoming the gaming industry scandal of the decade it may be the consumer that ends up bearing the brunt of Activision’s and Infinity Wards legal proceedings. Only this morning IGN have published the full detail of the lawsuit that is being filed against Activision by Jason West and Vince Zampella. In it the Plaintiff (West and Zampella) claim ownership of the Modern Warfare brand and have requested a temporary or permanent injunction against the release of any Modern Warfare game, or Call of Duty title set in the post-Vietnam era, near future or distant future.
Now this may not at first glance appear to have any bearing on any future content for the current Modern Warfare 2 title, however, further on in the document the plaintiffs request for relief further outlines that they contest the exploitation of the Modern Warfare brand stating
For a preliminary or permanent injunction against’s Defendant enjoining it and its officers, agents, employees and representatives from violating Plaintiff’s rights with respect to the development, release and exploitation of any Modern Warfare game or Call of Duty title set in the post-Vietnam era, near future or distant future.
The key word here is of course exploitation which will include gaining financial reward. So with the whole brand in question and an injunction being sought by the Plainiff then the possibility of seeing any extra content for Modern Warfare 2 at all never mind any time soon is very slim
