Blue's News has an interesting story about a public argument over who holds the rights to the upcoming shooter, Deep Black. The story begins when Strategy First and Just a Game announced distribution plans for the shooter. But that news story was followed by a complaint to Blue's News from Russian developer Biart claiming that Just a Game did not hold the rights for such a deal. Biart further lays down some complaints on its official web site.
Today Strategy First issued a statement to Blue's News explaining that JAG has obtained a restraining order against Biart in a German Court:
"Just A Game GmbH (“JAG”) announces that it has taken legal action sanctioned by the order of the Regional Court of Berlin against Biart Studio LLC (“Biart”). JAG has obtained a restraining order against Biart and with this legal procedure the German based publisher counters the recent assertion made by the Managing Director of Biart, Mr.Konstantin Popov regarding the publishing rights of ‘Deep Black’ (PC).
The Regional Court of Berlin acknowledges that the statements made by the developer against JAG and their strategic partners are damaging to the company’s business and reputation.
Along with the disparaging public remarks, the developer, Biart are in breach of their contractual obligations to JAG. The injunction made and sanctioned by the Regional Court prohibits Biart and its Managing Director Mr. Konstantin Popov from publicly disparaging JAG and their strategic partners, and from publicly denying the publishing rights of “Deep Black” (PC). Failure to comply will result in substantial fines, up to a detention order.
JAG is the licensed world wide publisher (Excluding CIS states of former Soviet Union) of the PC software title “Deep Black” and has sub-licensed the title for the North American Territory and worldwide digital distribution on Steam to publisher Strategy First Inc.
“The decision made by the Regional Court was expected and we want to make the situation transparent for all involved parties” comments Peer Fischer, Director of Legal & Business Affairs at JAG on the legal injunction. “The decision is to be understood that the developer is to meet its contractual obligations and provide open and direct communication with Just A Game”
“We fully support Just A Game in their current dispute We look forward to Just A Game and the developer finding an acceptable solution so that all contractual obligations are fulfilled. We are eager to offer this exciting and highly anticipated game to the public. ” Commented Strategy First Director Emanuel Wall."
Source: Blue's News
