Remember yesterday when we reported that an art installation at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany featured a mod that set the classic 1978 arcade game Space Invaders against the backdrop of the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11?
Well, it turns out that (not surprisingly) the makers of Space Invaders did not give permission for their game to be modded and displayed in such a manner, and ain’t too happy about it.
The Taito Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd., today issued a statement saying that the Invaders! installation by Douglas Edric Stanley was produced entirely without their knowledge and that the use of the world-famous Space Invaders content was wholly unauthorized. The “Space Invaders: the Anniversary Show” exhibition of the Computer Game Museum Berlin hosting the installation was likewise planned and presented without Taito’s knowledge and authorization.
Taito is considering legal actions against Stanley and, if necessary, the Games Convention exhibitor involved-in order to end this unauthorized and impermissible misuse of the Space Invaders content and to protect their intellectual properties.
Of course, Stanley claims his exhibit is using the World Trade Center attacks as a metaphor. It’s an interactive large installation, where the players must prevent the attack by shooting the invaders before they destroy the towers. Geez, I can’t imagine why anyone would be offended by that?!?!?
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