Now that former Infinity Ward leadership Vince Zampella and Jason West have filed a lawsuit against Activision (those papers were filed yesterday -- get the breakdown here) the legal fight is on. I've since reviewed an Activision internal legal memo from a source close to the company that details what documents Activision is searching for related to the current litigation with Zampella and West.
Much of what Activision's looking for is standard for a legal dispute related to, in Activision's words, "breach of contract" and "insubordination." Activision also believes they're legally in the clear.
"The Dispute involves West and Zampella's management of IW, as well as the development and marketing of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ("MW2"), and potential subsequent games developed by IW," reads the memo sent internally before the lawsuit was filed. "Activision believes that it has done nothing wrong and intends to vigorously defend any claims asserted by West and Zampella."
Below are some excerpts from a list of documents that Activision is looking for. Note the last one:
- "Documents regarding past, current or future IW projects, including but not limited to any and all businesses analyses of future projects (e.g. Modern Warfare 3)"
- "Documents regarding any potential 'spin out' of IW, including but not limited to any communications with IW employees, West or Zampella regarding forming a new studio independent of Activision"
- "Documents regarding West and Zampella's communications with Activision's competitors, including but not limited to Electronic Arts"
Modern Warfare 3 likely isn't in development yet, but it's not surprising to see that it was already on everyone's radar. The memo seems to indicate that Activision may have suspected West and Zampella were looking outside the company.
More details as they become available.
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badgarok725
so the two heads were looking into forming a new studio and breaking away from Activision......... such a crime. Shows just how much Activision is try to suck out all of the money from the franchises it "owns". It's IWs game, they deserve to do what they want with it, which includes not letting some horrible developer make their games bad
theantigzus
they milked tony hawk dry and towards the end didnt even do the franchise justice, even worse with Guitar Hero and the billions of bastard children that franchise had and their looking to do the same with call of duty, so thank you zampella and west for trying to save at the very least the modern warfare part of call of duty
permanent_nirvana
This is all a great hoax by EA in an effort to take down their biggest competion. With Activision out of the way, EA will own the gaming world.
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, you have been forewarned.
Idiosyncracy
Good luck to Vince Zampella and Jason West on this, they deserve to get paid for making the most moneymaking game ever!
youAREnotMYbrother
Infinity Ward, everyone is hoping you win, of course I hope you win. You MUST win! We are counting on you! If you win, ditch Activision. To Activision: "You have insulted my honor and you MUST die!" - Mister Handy, Fallout 3
Xoediac
Stay tuned for Activision's next big couple of titles due out this winter; "Modern Warfare: Project 8," "Modern Warfare: Down Hill Jam," and "Modern Warfare: Ride!"
Dennis Scimeca
This smacks of Miramax, Disney, and the Weinsteins. Disney purchase the Weinsteins' studio, and when they figure they have enough street cred they ditch and form their own company.
Keine_Lust
Activision needs some good lawyers behind them and the same with Infinity Ward or there going to lose their whole legal battle. I hope all goes good for Infinity Ward in the future.
mittens1231
Lets hope IW gets through this and pray Sony, Microsoft or even Nintendo buy them ou for exclusives.
telepathboy
If West and Zampella were looking to line up a new deal, and that's a big IF... does anyone think they were so blatantly negligent that they would have done it from Activision-owned computers?
Basilisk1991
So what they're basically saying is that IW is going to leave Activision for EA under a new anime and make MW3, interesting...
mont94
i hope IW wins and gives Activision the middle finger. they're trying to ruin West and Zampella's lives and destroy the future of IW and the MW series.
mb24
Just wondering but what legal bearing could possibly allow Activision access to those last two points? The lawsuit has nothing to do with what West and Zampella might do in the future and I doubt EA is now just going to sit quietly on the sidelines if they have had contact with West and Zampella.
Murderface94
the real lawsuit should be for putting the noob tube in the multiplayer
novasolid
EA is now what microsoft was in the 90's. they are the new evil empire!!!!! if EA can't do it on there own they buy out company's that can; aka the rockstar deal that went through. west and zampella there useing you to get to infinity ward. they dont want you!!!!
p,s EA; i see right through you.
NeoJobe
The attorney for Jason West and Vince Zampella responded to this memo and other things on Kombo.
http://www.kombo.com/article .php?artid=14259
Atomic_Boom22
I think legally IW is in the clear. There is nothing wrong with a developer wanting to separate from its parent company. Bungie is a good example, unless Activison folds IW into Activison like EA LA does, then they have say.
u4got2wipe
The G4 Breaking News cherry has been popped.
Breaking News: EA to release Madden 11 in the Fall of 2010.
OGsinister
Dead Space Team for Infinity Ward Team = Fair Trade
Swal
With all that's going on at Activision, would you rather work for Activision, or have a phone contract with AT&T?
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