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Sony designer David Jaffe sued for alleged God of War copyright infringement

September 17, 2008 in News comments 7

The game designer of God of War, David Jaffe, and Sony Computer Entertainment America have been sued for stealing an idea for the God of War series. Two people sued him because they had wrote a book with a very similar storyline.

Sony Computer Entertainment America and high-profile game designer David Jaffe have been sued in U.S. District Court in California for alleged copyright infringment involving the best-selling God of War series, GamePolitics has learned.

The suit was filed in late February by Jonathan Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer Barrette-Herzog, both of Davis, California. SCEA and Jaffe filed responses with the Court on August 29th.

In the complaint, Bissoon-Dath identifies himself as "the author of a series of related works of fiction, including Olympiad, a screenplay." Barrette-Herzog is described as the creator of Island at the Edge of the Living World, "a map that was submitted with Bissoon-Dath's work: The Adventures of Own: Owen's Olympic Adventure."

The plaintiffs allege that in 2002 they sent their work to Sony Pictures as well as agents who also did business with SCEA. Bissoon-Dath and Barrette-Herzog note that the original God of War shipped in 2005 and that David Jaffe apparently said at some point that the game had taken three years to develop.
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  • 1
    Goldva_X Sep 17, 08
    Damn, that ain't good. I hope it won't *bleep* up GoW3.
  • 0
    Sayyed Sep 17, 08
    Wow seems like they might have a solid case.

    I do recall seeing a video interiew with david jaffe that he has ahd the idea of an action adventure game for a long time.
  • 1
    Seproth Sep 17, 08
    Some interesting coincidences. It's fairly different though.

    Sword one is most annoying. Dual wielding glowing blades isn't exactly original idea for either party. Blades of Chaos/Athena are hardly big. They're wide and daggerish. They only glow as he attacks as well.

    Arguments about similar characters involvement in the story is pointless as well. It's Greek Mythology, Aries is god of war. Obvious choice of bad guy in this setting. If you keep established personalities then obviously similarities are going to happen.

    I'm assuming that Sony will protect Jaffe and there will be an out of court agreement soon.
    • 0
      Red 9 Sep 18, 08
      The one thing that gets me most is the copyright infringement of the storyline. The bloody thing follows Greek mythology. If using Greek mythology is infringement, then these guys might as well sue Greece itself.
  • 0
    Dance Floor Killah Sep 18, 08
    It only took them three years to bring this up. GG.
  • 1
    Capn Droid Sep 18, 08
    DEM ANCIENT GREEKS SHOULD SUE SONY BECAUSE DEM ANCIENT GREEKS COPYRIGHTED ATHENA
  • 0
    Final Blade Sep 18, 08
    What really makes this so laughable is I love Greek mythology and know a fair amount of it, and no Greek myth store has EVER been followed 100%. All was different in some way to the originals. The point is they don't have a case cause its not even similar as well. In fact the Suer should be the Suee, considering they screwed up the originals as well.

    I don't see this being a case it has no merit at all. All Greek myth end up at one point being different or used in other ways then the original. Also Dance Floor Killah makes a brilliant point, why the hell are they bringing this up 3-4 years later?
    You can't possibly tell me they didn't take notice of this game before now? It seems a little suspicious for them to sue now then earlier.

    Edit: After reading all the comments in the page I come to realize the idiocy of this lawsuit. First off this:
    quote
    Plaintiff's works tell the original story of how a champion saves Athens from destruction by the invading Spartan army that has been sent by Ares... [GoW]... is the story of how a champion chosen by Zeus and Athens saves Athen from destruction by an invading army sent by Ares...
    Ok first off Kratos is the only spartan there, and he's the one who usually leads them. However he wasn't picked to do this, Kratos pledged his allegiance to the gods after what he did while working with Ares. And come on here, Ares the GOD of WAR. Who else are you going to pick for a war? Honestly weak point, next.

    quote
    In plaintiff's original work and God of War, the Champion's family is hacked to death in a one-room building in a small peaceful village. In both stories the Champion feels partially responsible even though he is not really to blame...
    There's always peaceful villages in Greek mythology thats a given, that isn't even a point. And Kratos doesn't feel partially responsible, he FEELS 100% responsible cause HE freaking KILLED them. Thus starting the 10 years of servitude to the gods; which ironically enough is the same as the 12(or 13) trials that Hercules had to do when he killed his kids. As in punishment. So really God of War should be sued for copying Hercules as well.
    Bad argument there.
    quote
    In exchange for Kratos' pledge, Ares gives him... the Blades of Chaos... two massive, glowing, sword-like blades fastened to chains fused to Kratos's wrists... These Blade of Chaos are taken directly from a scene in Bissoon-Dath's work... "As Zeus strides forward... his hands MORPH into two massive swords that glow like light sabers..."
    What the hell!! So basically he just stole some original work from George Lucas and the Star Wars series? Brilliant hypocrisy.
    quote
    ...Owen must cross the Bottomless Valley over a long, sagging suspension bridge, shown on Barrette-Herzog's map... in God of War Kratos must cross the Bottomless Chasm on a long, sagging suspension bridge...
    Funny considering this sounds like Bridge of Death from Monty Python.

    Ok seriously this has to got to be the worst Screenplay script I have ever read. And people read all the comments, there's awesome points how the whole argument has nothing at all.

    This is has much truth in it as Wacko Jacko allege lawsuits.

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