[QUOTE]Rockstar Games, via its parent company Take-Two Interactive, [B]has filed a lawsuit against the BBC in London today for trademark infringement in relation to the broadcaster’s upcoming drama ‘Game Changer’[/B] (working title).
The 90-minute feature will focus on the real-life conflict between Rockstar President Sam Houser and the US lawyer, and outspoken critic of the GTA series, Jack Thompson, with Daniel Radcliffe and Bill Paxton playing the respective roles.
Here is Rockstar’s statement in full, issued to IGN:
[QUOTE]"Take-Two Interactive has filed suit against the BBC for trademark infringement based on their movie currently titled ‘Game Changer’ as it relates to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto video game series.
"While holders of the trademarks referenced in the film title and its promotion, Rockstar Games has had no involvement with this project. Our goal is to ensure that our trademarks are not misused in the BBC's pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events related to Rockstar Games. We have attempted multiple times to resolve this matter with the BBC without any meaningful resolution. It is our obligation to protect our intellectual property and unfortunately in this case litigation was necessary."[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/21/rockstar-games-files-lawsuit-against-the-bbc?utm_campaign=ign+main+twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social[/url]
This film they are making sounds like it is going to be a "video games makes criminals" type of thing. Hopefully Rockstar and Take Two don't get their ip's tarnished because of this.
Does this have any legal grounds?
[quote]with Daniel Radcliffe and Bill Paxton playing the respective roles.[/quote]
What an odd fucking mix.
How would one go about tarnishing the GTA IP's reputation
[QUOTE=BackSapper;47776436]This film they are making sounds like it is going to be a "video games makes criminals" type of thing. Hopefully Rockstar and Take Two don't get their ip's tarnished because of this.[/QUOTE]
It's about Rockstar's Sam Houser vs Jack Thompson, who do you think is going to be shown as the bad guys, the British success story who co-founded one of the most influential game development studios in the world or the disbarred American lawyer?
Not to mention it is part of the 'Make it Digital' initiative by the BBC to encourage young people to get into programming, portraying Rockstar as the bad guys will completely contradict the purpose of the film. In fact it would also contradict the BBC themselves when they announced the film and described GTA as "arguably the greatest British coding success story since Bletchley Park".
Eh, you are making a documentary about the biggest game developing controversy and you don't ask for rights and shit?
Get fucked BBC.
How the hell does Harry Potter fit that role?
I've never heard of Take-Two until now. Strange.
Ha, they didn't even ask get permission to make it? Noice.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but I wasn't aware you needed permission to make documentaries, provided they didn't contain libelous content. Even if it contains libel, you can't really say much about it until the work is released, at which point, sue to your hearts content.
Someone want to explain what is actually happening here? What exactly is the infringement?
[QUOTE=Exigent;47776904]I've never heard of Take-Two until now. Strange.[/QUOTE]
this actually astounds me more than it should.
[QUOTE=Zephyrs;47777180]Maybe I'm missing something here, but I wasn't aware you needed permission to make documentaries, provided they didn't contain libelous content. Even if it contains libel, you can't really say much about it until the work is released, at which point, sue to your hearts content.
Someone want to explain what is actually happening here? What exactly is the infringement?[/QUOTE]
It's a 'drama'.
[QUOTE=0x0000000C;47776692]Eh, you are making a documentary about the biggest game developing controversy and you don't ask for rights and shit?
Get fucked BBC.[/QUOTE]
They've been negotiating for while now, not like the BBC did it with them completely in the dark.
[QUOTE=MachiniOs;47780619]They've been negotiating for while now, not like the BBC did it with them completely in the dark.[/QUOTE]
Yeah and Rockstar obviously aren't happy with the BBC clearly sidelining them and moving ahead with it.
I'm curious as to why they'd sue, given the fact that this could potentially be good rep for the company. Maybe Taketwo is aiming for an out of court settlement to wrangle some money out of the BBC.
Game over, man, game over
How did The Social Network get made if you need permission for this kind of stuff? Idk
[editline]23rd May 2015[/editline]
The Social Network will also forever be the answer to those who say "sounds boring, you can't make a drama out of that"
[QUOTE=BackSapper;47776436]This film they are making sounds like it is going to be a "video games makes criminals" type of thing. Hopefully Rockstar and Take Two don't get their ip's tarnished because of this.[/QUOTE]
Really? I thought they were making a film that suggested the very opposite, showing Jack Thompson as a deranged clown.
BBC is making "Jack Thompson: The Movie"?!
And here I thought he would never be relevant again. I can't imagine what would possess BBC to create such a film. That man was an awful, deceptive person, who fully got what he deserved (being disbarred).
[QUOTE='KING]THT[WRATH;47785413']BBC is making "Jack Thompson: The Movie"?!
And here I thought he would never be relevant again. I can't imagine what would possess BBC to create such a film. That man was an awful, deceptive person, who fully got what he deserved (being disbarred).[/QUOTE]
You haven't read any of the posts above have you? It is not about making Thompson relevant again, it is creating a "tense" documentary about a very successful game that is tied to Britain, which is all in an attempt to get young people interested in programming. Having some sort of drama or tension (in the form of Thompson's lawsuits) just makes the project more appealing for people.
I'm still not sure how/why you would need permission to do a documentary though, there might be things we are not aware of.
I feel like Game Changer is a proper shit title, hope they change it
Looks like this lawsuit is going to be a gamechanger.
I cant wait until we get passed the point where all people don't believe video games cause violence.
[QUOTE=Deathtrooper2;47791261]I cant wait until we get passed the point where all people don't believe video games cause violence.[/QUOTE]
People still think rock music is the work of the devil, and that Elvis's dancing was too lewd.
It's not going to happen in your lifetime. Probably not in this millennium. There will always be more stupid people.
[QUOTE=squids_eye;47776638]It's about Rockstar's Sam Houser vs Jack Thompson, who do you think is going to be shown as the bad guys, the British success story who co-founded one of the most influential game development studios in the world or the disbarred American lawyer?
Not to mention it is part of the 'Make it Digital' initiative by the BBC to encourage young people to get into programming, portraying Rockstar as the bad guys will completely contradict the purpose of the film. In fact it would also contradict the BBC themselves when they announced the film and described GTA as "arguably the greatest British coding success story since Bletchley Park".[/QUOTE]
That and they got Radcliffe to portray Houser.
i hope this is just in protest to radcliffe playing him
I say we shut them down. The BBC, that is. They had their chance.
No more license fee.
lol try and piss off the only good gaming company that came out of this country that's still standing, yeah you go bbc.
Daniel Radcliffe as the president of Rockstar?
I have [B]got[/B] to see this.
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