Activision Ordered to Return Scratch Source

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Activision Ordered to Return Scratch Source


DJ Hero [http://www.activision.coj].

The short version goes like this: When the lawsuit [http://www.geniusproducts.com/].

Activision, of course, claimed [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91020-Activision-Responds-To-Scratch-Lawsuit] it had done nothing wrong and had actually bolstered the development of the game by providing necessary financing to 7 Studios. The Los Angeles Superior Court agreed, finding no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Activision; however, it did order 7 Studios to immediately return the source code for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ to Genius and also ordered a "wall-off" of sensitive information relating to the game, preventing the developer from disclosing the code or "trade secrets" to any other parties, including Activision.

"In addition to winning the requested injunctive relief, Scratch DJ Game LLC [the partnership between Genius and Numark] will aggressively pursue its court case against Activision, 7 Studios and [7 Studios CEO Lewis] Peterson for damages resulting from their actions to delay and take over the Scratch game," the companies said in a statement to GamesIndustry [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/court-orders-return-of-scratch-source-code]. "Scratch DJ Game LLC contends it will prove that, only after venture partner Genius rejected multi-million dollar offers from Activision for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Game, Activision then used information it obtained under a non-disclosure agreement with Genius to buy financially struggling contract developer 7 Studios in order to delay and control completion and release of Scratch, which is to compete with the DJ Hero game Activision has announced it has under development."

"Scratch DJ Game LLC believes Activision's actions with regard to Scratch were clearly an attempt to prevent the game from getting to market ahead of its own prospective game, DJ Hero, or to exact a lower price for the Scratch game after it took control of the contract developer working for its competitor," the statement continued.

Both Scratch: The Ultimate DJ and DJ Hero are in development for the Wii [http://www.xbox.com]. DJ Hero is slated for release by the end of 2009, while a release date for Scratch has yet to be announced.


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sheic99

New member
Oct 15, 2008
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This makes me happy. Activision getting screwed at their own money grubbing game. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised Konami hasn't tried to release Beatmania.
 

KarumaK

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Sep 24, 2008
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They tried to stop an opposing product? Huh, guess smart business isn't legal these days.
 

KeyMaster45

Gone Gonzo
Jun 16, 2008
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I've never heard of either of these games, and without even looking into further details about either of them I can say the initial concept is kinda stupid. We've already got guitar hero and rock band, which both come w/ enough peripheral equipment that we don't need a dj turntable to be added to the pile crap we only break out at parties.

So in agreement with Indigo, but changing the idea......how much do we need to pay them not release either of them.
 

Sigenrecht

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Mar 17, 2008
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I fell out of my chair reading this one. I mean, it gets kind of scary when Plan B is "buy out the competition's resources. HUR.", but I'm glad to see Activision got their hands slapped for this spectacular dick move.