True Crime taken to True Court - http://www.mmcafe.com/ Forums

[an error occurred while processing this directive] True Crime taken to True Court - http://www.mmcafe.com/ Forums

Original message ([an error occurred while processing this directive] Views )[an error occurred while processing this directive]

DarkZero

391th Post

Silver Customer

"True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 00:35

As reported by GameSpot, crime novel author Robert Crais is suing Activision, alleging that True Crime: Streets of LA, an as-yet-unreleased game that I have little doubt he HAS NOT played, is "substantially similar" to his Elvis Cole novels... because they feature a violent anti-hero cop.

I'm hoping that Penny Arcade will just swap some different art into The Dark Procession and leave the rest of it intact. Violent antihero law enforcement officers have been around since some overly enrobed poof with an quill in the Heian era thought, "Hey, what if some samurai, like... went bad?", and I wouldn't even be surprised if someone found a cave drawing somewhere of a chieftain beating up a guy that stole some mammoth meat.

Replies:

Gojira

1167th Post

Red Carpet Premium Member+

"Re(1):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 02:49

quote:
As reported by GameSpot, crime novel author Robert Crais is suing Activision, alleging that True Crime: Streets of LA, an as-yet-unreleased game that I have little doubt he HAS NOT played, is "substantially similar" to his Elvis Cole novels... because they feature a violent anti-hero cop.

I assume by your tone that whereas Mr. Crais HAS NOT played this game, you HAVE read these Elvis Cole books. Care to enlighten us as to why he might be so inclined to sue over it?

DarkZero

392th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(2):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 04:33

quote:

I assume by your tone that whereas Mr. Crais HAS NOT played this game, you HAVE read these Elvis Cole books. Care to enlighten us as to why he might be so inclined to sue over it?

My point was that because no one but a handful of reviewers have played the game, as well as possibly a short demo somewhere (though not that I know of), Mr. Crais can't know much more than the fact that both True Crime and his books are in the same genre. It's as if Sony announced a new horror movie with a monster in it and the producers of Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street pre-emptively sued them because any horror movie with a monster in it is "obviously" blatant theft of their intellectual property, regardless of the fact that they don't know what they're suing over because they haven't seen the movie. Because Mr. Crais can't know what's actually in the game, his case basically boils down to "I own the entire genre", just like White Wolf's unsuccessful attempt to prevent Sony from releasing Underworld. He's suing them blindly.

Hungrywolf

2441th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(3):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 10:02

quote:

I assume by your tone that whereas Mr. Crais HAS NOT played this game, you HAVE read these Elvis Cole books. Care to enlighten us as to why he might be so inclined to sue over it?

My point was that because no one but a handful of reviewers have played the game, as well as possibly a short demo somewhere (though not that I know of), Mr. Crais can't know much more than the fact that both True Crime and his books are in the same genre. It's as if Sony announced a new horror movie with a monster in it and the producers of Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street pre-emptively sued them because any horror movie with a monster in it is "obviously" blatant theft of their intellectual property, regardless of the fact that they don't know what they're suing over because they haven't seen the movie. Because Mr. Crais can't know what's actually in the game, his case basically boils down to "I own the entire genre", just like White Wolf's unsuccessful attempt to prevent Sony from releasing Underworld. He's suing them blindly.

I have to agree with DarkZero. I didn't know that White Wolf tried to do that, that's pretty funny, and is out of line. (Although when I saw previews for Underworld I did immediately think of Vampire: The Masquerade for some reason.)

"no again my apoligizes for anyone i offend!!!!!"
Hungry Like the Wolf

suichi
95th Post

Occasional Customer

"Re(4):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 15:01

quote:
I have to agree with DarkZero. I didn't know that White Wolf tried to do that, that's pretty funny, and is out of line. (Although when I saw previews for Underworld I did immediately think of Vampire: The Masquerade for some reason.)

White Wolf tried to sue Sony because the actual script of Underworld was *very* similar to a particular piece of their intellectual property. I don't blame them for doing it, but I agree it was stupid and completely unneccicary.

Perhaps the author in question has received some inside info that his plotlines and character story were used in making the game. You can't possibly know the entire truth, regardless of how stupid and petty the idea is. I'll wait till all the info's out to form a real opinion.

--Suichiro

CrazyMike

707th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member

"Re(5):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sat 18 Oct 15:53

Perhaps White Wolf should of tried licensing their characters to be turned into a film rather than harassing those for money who got the jump on them to make a gothic vampire/werewolf flick.

CrazyMax

308th Post

Bronze Customer

"Re(4):True Crime taken to True Court" , posted Sun 19 Oct 07:43

quote:

I have to agree with DarkZero. I didn't know that White Wolf tried to do that, that's pretty funny, and is out of line. (Although when I saw previews for Underworld I did immediately think of Vampire: The Masquerade for some reason.)

That is the exact reason White Wolf sued. That and for some quick money, my jaded self would guess. The fact was that a LOT of people who were familiar with the White Wolf game, got that same impression that the movie was inspired from the game. The irony of course is that the game was heavily inspired from the works of Anne Rice and more, and she didn't sue them. Of course that point easily escaped White Wolf who wanted compensation.

Also the writer who is also mentioned in the suit, has been involved with a lawsuit before involving her vampire stories. I forget off hand if she was the plaintiff or defendant.

Like it was mentioned, since we don't know the specifics of the True Crime situation, like we do with the White Wolf one. So it's hard to assess whether the claim is silly or not.