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Tecmo Sued Again: Lawsuit Filed by Two Employees, On Behalf Of All 300

June 17, 2008 in Industry News comments 8

Tecmo is in even deeper trouble than it was before.

Hot off the heels of former Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki leaving and suing, which was followed up by other members from Team Ninja doing the same, the publisher and developer now faces another lawsuit filed by two high-ranking employees, including developer Hiroaki Ozawa. The lawsuit will be on behalf of the company's 300 employees, seeking payment for unpaid overtime. The suit stems from an illegal switch to a "flexible hours" work scheme four years ago. Due to the switch, this resulted in unpaid overtime hours that had exceeded over 100 such hours. It is also claimed in the lawsuit that Tecmo falsified documents and had covered up the appropriate accounting documents.

This presumably will now put Tecmo's current projects in jeopardy: the notable ones being Fatal Frame IV, Tecmo Bowl, and Rygar Wii. While Fatal Frame IV has the best chance to stay alive due to Nintendo's involvement, it is not easy to say for the fate of the current games in development.

Akira_EX via kotaku.com »
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  • 0
    Miss Razz Jun 18, 08
    quote
    This presumably will now put Tecmo's current projects in jeopardy: the notable ones being Fatal Frame IV
    Nooooooooooo!
    • 1
      Storm Jun 18, 08
      Uh-oh...

      Stay cool, stay calm, GG, I'm sure they wouldn't toss away FFIV when it's nearly done with. It can help save them some money to pay off the cases they lose, as well. xD
      • 0
        Miss Razz Jun 18, 08
        That's a good way to look at it. Maybe they'll try extra hard to make FFIV awesome because they need as much money as possible.


        ... the only thing I'm worried about is the possibility that FFIV will be the last FF game if Tecmo collapses.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jun 18, 08
    Its funny how rumors spread isn't it. Everywhere I read its been labeled as rumor. Wow. Not believing this, its highly unlikely now, it just seems they're following Itagaki move to be honest.
    • 1
      Miss Razz Jun 18, 08
      It was a rumor yesterday. Today it has been confirmed.

      quote
      its highly unlikely now, it just seems they're following Itagaki move to be honest.
      You think it's highly unlikely that Tecmo didn't pay their employees, yet it's more likely that half the team would quit their jobs just to follow Itagaki? It's a Japanese company. No self-respecting Japanese business man would leave his job for such a reason. Heck, it's pretty amazing that they're even leaving their jobs for unpaid bonuses and overtime. Most would accept the boss's choice as the boss's choice. Not getting fully paid for a job is better than no job at all in Japan.
      • -3
        Final Blade Jun 19, 08
        Yes I do find it highly unlikely that they didn't pay all of Team Ninja, and to me looks like they're following Itagaki.

        Now whether they didn't pay Itagaki is another story, but I was more addressing that they wouldn't pay all of Team Ninja for all those unpaid bonus. Its fishy no company, even Tecmo would do this, its just unorthodox and makes it sound untrue.

  • 1
    Zeon I Jun 18, 08
    Wow, Tecmo's Is about to go down faster than Bobby Brown. Let's hope Tecmo is able to come to a mutual agreement with it's lawsuit-happy employees.
  • 1
    Enhance Jun 20, 08
    If the reasons for the lawsuit are indeed true I support their decision 100%. If not and they are just trying to get some extra cash when they see the opportunity them shame on them.

    Btw, anyone else immediately think "THIS IS SPARTAA" when reading this title?

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