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Per · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 15:53 Post subject: Bethesda-Interplay lawsuit details

Ausir sums up the affair on The Vault:

New details have surfaced about Bethesda's lawsuit against Interplay over trademark infringement. Or lawsuits, because, as you can see in the court filings, there are two of them.

The first one, as we described in the previous newspost, is over the rights to Fallout Online (codenamed Project V13). The second one, however, is over Interplay's re-releases of original Fallout games, like the Fallout Trilogy pack or various digital distribution sites.

Turns out that, while Interplay was permitted to sell Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics the contract required all advertising, packaging and other promotional material to be sent to Bethesda for approval first, which, according to the lawsuit, was never done regarding neither the Fallout Trilogy pack, nor any of the releases through Good Old Games, Steam and other digital distribution platforms. Bethesda also claims that the name Trilogy constitutes unfair competition, since it suggests that the pack includes Fallout 3.

Link: Court filings
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Ausir · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 16:18 Post subject:

I talked to an insider, and it looks like Bethesda never intended to approve anything Interplay would send to them.
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Black · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 16:20 Post subject:

It's pretty funny since Fallout Trilogy has been in stores before Fallout 3 was even created.
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rehevkor · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 16:22 Post subject:

DRAMA

Beth have really screwed Interplay (and Fallout) over this. But Interplay agreed to it all so they only have themselves to blame.

Senna M

Ausir · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 16:26 Post subject:

I hope that when Herve's Interplay-in-name-only dies, Brian Fargo will buy back the name "Interplay" and return from his exile. And that Chris Taylor will join the Wasteland 2 team, while we're at it.

Fargo actually seems like the kind of guy who would do this out of sentiment. And it would also make sense in terms of brand recognition.

Syraxith · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 16:48 Post subject:

Senna M · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 17:05 Post subject:

Beelzebud · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 17:37 Post subject:

So Bethesda wants to keep Fallout and Fallout 2 off the store shelves?

I really didn't think I could ever truly *hate* a company, but with Bethesda, I'm really starting to.

Vault Maker · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 17:39 Post subject:

I wonder what the Bethesda-approved packaging for the old games would have looked like. I think the top things they would want to add would be screenshots depicting:

Dreadful Dialogue
Drinkable Toilets
Dysfunctional Aimed Shots Mode

"That would really help show we've built sequels with canonical continuity!"

Idea: art contest...
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rcorporon · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 17:43 Post subject:

Over the past three or four years Bethesda has turned from a company that I really enjoyed supporting (Daggerfall & Morrowind) to a company that I simply cannot stand (Oblivion and Fallout 3).

This just cements my loathing of that company, and they will never see another dime from my wallet.

All this time Todd was claiming that he was a "fan" of the original Fallouts, etc, etc, and with this going on (basically trying to kill the original franchise) it really shows what a bunch of liars Bethsoft is.
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Ausir · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 17:47 Post subject:

Ravager69 · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 18:47 Post subject:

Ausir · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 18:49 Post subject:

How so? Once Herve's IPLY collapses, I don't think Fargo buying the name out of sentiment would be out of the question. He seems to me like the kind of guy who would do that.

And Taylor joining Anderson at inXile once IPLY collapses would be a pretty natural decision. In fact, I wonder why he hasn't done it already.
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Ulysses · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 18:58 Post subject:

Corith · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 19:14 Post subject:

The real question is,
Did Beth pony up the 6 million to keep Herve from going under in 07, knowing he'd fail at some clause in their agreement, and they could have all of Fallout for that small sum (gamewize speaking).

Or, were they stupid morons and thought that crooked frog wouldn't screw them they way he's screwed everybody else in buisness.

He's like the french ghetto version Willy Banks from Ocean's 13.
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GreyViper · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 19:18 Post subject:

You know it sounds to me, that who ever pulls Beths strings, is upset they missed all the cash while Triple Pack was in top 10 most sold.
And ouch Scorpius that's a lot of bitterness.
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100LBSofDogmeat · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 20:44 Post subject:

Well, that's the only *real* Fallout Trilogy that I know of, unless you count Van Burn.

But I still never consider "Fallout" 3 part of the canon or anything. It's horrid.
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Sorrow · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 21:09 Post subject:

Not really. It's just one true Fallout, one half-true and a box of tictacs Razz

.
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