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[Seiru]

Here's a good summary of the claims and the resolution for those interested:

Sounds like everything has to do with the Doom BFG VR mod after all.

That's a goofy way to lose $500 million.

 

[CrichtonKicks]

People are being short sighted by saying "yeah, but Zenimax was asking for $4 billion." It's standard procedure for lawsuits to ask for an absurdly high number. That doesn't mean it's necessarily what they expected.

Only Zenimax insiders know for certain but I expect they are ecstatic with this result.

 

[OryoN]

The stock market was waiting on Facebook's earnings report later today, which will affect trading tomorrow. The timing of this court case result may have an impact on their stocks. It could make investors a bit reluctant to be bullish even if FB posts decent profit/growth for the recent season. (I literally just heard, while typing, that their Q4 results looked good!).

 

[Head.spawn]

Putting that money to work already Doom Co-Developer Escalation Studios Acquired by ZeniMax.

 

[arimanius]

You could say he's not so... Luckey?

Unluckey

 

[NaDannMaGoGo]

People are being short sighted by saying "yeah, but Zenimax was asking for $4 billion." It's standard procedure for lawsuits to ask for an absurdly high number. That doesn't mean it's necessarily what they expected.

Only Zenimax insiders know for certain but I expect they are ecstatic with this result.

Though they most likely were hoping for a cut from future earnings which could always be massive should the VR industry and Oculus become huge. But with Oculus not misappropriating trade secrets that's not gonna happen.

 

[Masterspeed]

Let's hope they put some money into Bethesda so they can make a new fucking engine and increase funding into beta testers.

 

[Lady Siara]

Hm, glad to hear Carmack was cleared but surprised at the result. Didn't even realize this NDA breaking business was in the case as well.

At the very least, Palmer has to pay $50 million of it himself so that's good.

 

[ironcreed]

They originally asked for 2 billion and got 500 million. It's a shit ton of money but I wonder if they are satisfied only getting 500m

I think they will be alright.

 

[BlastProcessing]

Conflicted. Palmer Luckey is a scuzzbag but wasn't this whole lawsuit basically patent trolling?

Not even a little bit.

 

[mnannola]

Luckey will personally have to pay $50 million in the suit, while former Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe will be forced to pay $150 million.

Holy hell Brendan Iribe has to shell out 150 million of his own money? Just how rich is that guy?

 

[chrominance]

Polygon story has been update with the same details from the TechCrunch story. So basically, the court/jury found in favour of Zenimax on copyright infringement (using Doom 3: BFG Edition to show off the Rift to investors), false designation (misleading people into think Zenimax supported the Rift, probably via Carmack's comments and the use of Doom 3: BFG Edition) and Breach of Contract (the NDA). Strangely, though, they didn't find in favour of Zenimax on the trademark infringement issue (using trademarks associated with Doom 3: BFG Edition without Zenimax's consent).

Why would the jury award Zenimax damages for copyright infringement but not trademark infringement?

(also, from my reading, Carmack was cleared of communicating trade secrets, but it kind of still sounds like he went along with the Doom 3-related stuff, so I wouldn't say he's 100% in the clear based on what we know of the verdict so far)

 

[JayEH]

can they finally use a new engine for TES and fallout

 

[BarringGaffner]

Facebook have to be regretting that purchase...

 

[anothertech]

500M for breaking NDA. Dam. Harsh son.

 

[dex3108]

ZeniMax may seek court order to halt sale of current Oculus Rift headsets

this is getting interesting.

 

[LordofPwn]

Why would the jury award Zenimax damages for copyright infringement but not trademark infringement?

Because it was a jury. Because Copyright and Trademark are 2 separate things. I'm not a lawyer, and i'll need to chat with my lawyer friends, but from how it sounds they used Doom 3 BFG edition (copyrighted) but didn't create something new using the Doom property (trademark). I'm sure it's a bit more complicated than that though.

 

[AColdDay]

Can Facebook sue Palmer for breaking the NDA and get the money back that they paid him?

 

[Ocaso]

NeoGAF needs to bring back the laughing smiley just for this post.

Lol! I just realized my mistake! That'll teach me to post when exhausted! I will leave it unedited for posterity. Carry on...

(It's still a ridiculous amount of money and still a victory for Zenimax, though).

 

[VibratingDonkey]

Zenimax winning doesn't make me happy.

Oculus and Luckey each have to pay $50 million for false designation.

But this sure does.

 

[LordCanti]

Zenimax winning doesn't make me happy.

But this sure does.

It's a bit odd to me that Palmer is only on the hook for 50 while Iribe is in for 150. I'm not a lawyer though, so I guess I don't know if being CEO (Iribe) means you're more liable than the founder. Some money coming out of Palmer's pocket directly is appealing but... yeah... speaking of appeals...

 

[Zaventem]

This really isn't as big as a blow as some are making it out to be for a company like facebook. They wanted 4 billion

 

[Fisty]

Zenimax getting $500 million ain't exactly the best outcome, but at least Lucky lost 50 million in the process.

 

[boredandlazy]

Have they sacked Luckey yet?

 

[SprachBrooks]

Man Palmer Luckey costed Facebook so much.

Why do people keep pretending as if it was Palmer Luckey that was solely responsible in this case? As if Carmack didn't do anything –– purportedly –– wrong by taking with him ideas from his time at Zenimax.

Seems like people just wishing the worst on Luckey because of his political exploits, more than anything else with respect to the actual legitimacy of the case brought against Oculus. Wonder if people's perceptions would be different had he not engaged in right-wing political manoeuvring.

 

[elrechazado]

How is anyone saying this isn't a ridiculous amount of money? It's $500 million! You could give $1 million to every person in America from that and have money over $100 million left over. It's a colossal victory for Zenimax, particularly given how vehemently and smugly Facebook argued against any wrongdoing and how they likely overvalued Oculus initially.

Lol

Til there are 500 people living in america

 

[Justified]

So Carmack was found at fault just not monetarily.

Now Zenimax is looking at stopping Oculus sales based on this. Its not over folks!

While not awarding any money on this count, the jury also found that id Software co-founder and current Oculus CTO John Carmack took Rage source code and thousands of electronic files on a USB storage device which contained ZeniMax VR technology when he left the company.

Carmack intentionally destroyed data on his computer after he got notice of this litigation and right after he researched on Google how to wipe a hard drive—and data on other Oculus computers and USB storage devices were similarly deleted (as determined by a court-appointed, independent expert in computer forensics); (vii) when he quit id Software, Carmack admitted he secretly downloaded and stole over 10,000 documents from ZeniMax on a USB storage device, as well as the entire source code to RAGE and the id tech® 5 engine —which Carmack uploaded to his Oculus computer; (viii) Carmack filed an affidavit which the court's expert said was false in denying the destruction of evidence;

http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/1/14478258/zenimax-oculus-injunction

 

[Abounder]

They originally asked for 2 billion and got 500 million. It's a shit ton of money but I wonder if they are satisfied only getting 500m

Sounds like a typical virtual reality investment, amirite

 

[Bold One]

Luckey fucked up... again.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke,

hopefully the employees will be okay

 

[Primethius]

People are being short sighted by saying "yeah, but Zenimax was asking for $4 billion." It's standard procedure for lawsuits to ask for an absurdly high number. That doesn't mean it's necessarily what they expected.

Only Zenimax insiders know for certain but I expect they are ecstatic with this result.

Yep.

 

[plagiarize]

Yep. That's my reaction to this. Just a smile and a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

 

[L Thammy]

I like how this case reversed its GAF reception. Initially people were dismissive of the accusations and were rooting for Oculus, and now...

Anyway Luckey get fucked

 

[Head.spawn]

Zenimax winning doesn't make me happy.

But this sure does.

I'll take it as a $50million fine for financing racist propaganda. WP ZeniMax.

 

[FlyinJ]

Why do people keep pretending as if it was Palmer Luckey that was solely responsible in this case? As if Carmack didn't do anything –– purportedly –– wrong by taking with him ideas from his time at Zenimax.

Seems like people just wishing the worst on Luckey because of his political exploits, more than anything else with respect to the actual legitimacy of the case brought against Oculus. Wonder if people's perceptions would be different had he not engaged in right-wing political manoeuvring.

He wasn't engaging in right-wing political maneuvering. He was engaged in alt-right (milo was involved, as well as anonymous white supremacists) political maneuvering.

I hate this "aw shucks he just had a different political viewpoint" bullshit.

 

[K.Jack]

So Carmack was found at fault just not monetarily.

Now Zenimax is looking at stopping Oculus sales based on this. Its not over folks!

That last paragraph is WOW material.

 

[Basileus777]

Why do people keep pretending as if it was Palmer Luckey that was solely responsible in this case? As if Carmack didn't do anything –– purportedly –– wrong by taking with him ideas from his time at Zenimax.

Seems like people just wishing the worst on Luckey because of his political exploits, more than anything else with respect to the actual legitimacy of the case brought against Oculus. Wonder if people's perceptions would be different had he not engaged in right-wing political manoeuvring.

I mean yeah, if Luckey hadn't promoted and backed a neo-Nazi group people would feel differently about him. It's kind of hard to side step that whole bit.

 

[jett]

So Carmack was found at fault just not monetarily.

Now Zenimax is looking at stopping Oculus sales based on this. Its not over folks!

I'm disappointed to read that Carmack is one scummy, slimy mofo.

 

[AAK]

500 million over a simple Doom mod... I don't know what to say or understand the justice logic if Carmack was acquitted of the data theft lawsuit.

But it would be nice if that money was funneled to more projects by Tango Gameworks hopefully.

 

[Justified]

500 million over a simple Doom mod... I don't know what to say or understand the justice logic if Carmack was acquitted of the data theft lawsuit.

But it would be nice if that money was funneled to more projects by Tango Gameworks hopefully.

He wasnt. Zenimax lawyers are about to load another round in the chamber.

 

[plagiarize]

I mean yeah, if Luckey hadn't promoted and backed a neo-Nazi group people would feel differently about him. It's kind of hard to side step that whole bit.

I certainly don't feel obliged to try side stepping it.

 

[Matt]

Pretty much everything here happened as I expected, though I thought ZM would get damages from Carmack's wrongdoing (though they are trying again there).

 

[AAK]

He wasnt. Zenimax lawyers are about to load another round in the chamber.

So the lawsuit isn't over? The jury have to deliberate more?

 

[bengraven]

Elder Scrolls 6 is going to have a much bigger budget.

 

[Akronis]

So Carmack was found at fault just not monetarily.

Now Zenimax is looking at stopping Oculus sales based on this. Its not over folks!





http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/1/14478258/zenimax-oculus-injunction

What the fuck was Carmack thinking? He's been in the business for so long he should know that all of this was such a bad idea. What a moron.

 

[Justified]

So the lawsuit isn't over? The jury have to deliberate more?

This particular one is over, but base on some of the rulings Zenimax is thinking of filling an injunction to halt the sale of Oculus headsets. Because the jury did find the Carmack lied, and stole electronic files, and source code (though they didnt award any money damages for it)

 

[NotSmartEnough]

They have evidence that Carmack used Google to search "how to delete stolen Zenimax data from a hard drive" after he learned about the investigation?

That's the funniest thing I've heard today. Well done, Carmack. One of the finest criminal minds of our time.

 

[Justified]

What the fuck was Carmack thinking? He's been in the business for so long he should know that all of this was such a bad idea. What a moron.

You would think someone of his technical stature would not have to google how to wipe a hard drive at least lol

 

[Reallink]

So Carmack was found at fault just not monetarily.

Now Zenimax is looking at stopping Oculus sales based on this. Its not over folks!





http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/1/14478258/zenimax-oculus-injunction

It doesn't seem plausible that John Carmack had to Google how to wipe a hard drive, considering he has surely built dozens and dozens of computers in his day and sold/gave/disposed of what must be hundreds of HDD's. Presumably he would at minimum be familiar with DBAN, dozens of Windows wiping tools, or whatever exists in Linux, and could assuredly writen his own in about 10 minutes. Not even getting into how they would have come by such evidence, which I assume means he Googled it from his Zenimax computer. Definitely smells fabricated.

 

[Akronis]

You would think someone of his technical stature would not have to google how to wipe a hard drive at least lol

Ehhh programming knowledge does that translate to workstation and hardware knowledge.

However, that's some pretty basic shit. Any corporate IT dept usually uses 7-pass DoD standard for wiping drives (depending on PII and other restricted/conf. info).

 

[Justified]

It doesn't seem plausible that John Carmack had to Google how to wipe a hard drive, considering he has surely built dozens and dozens of computers in his day and sold/gave/disposed of what must be hundreds of HDD's. Presumably he would at minimum be familiar with DBAN, dozens of Windows wiping tools, or whatever exists in Linux, and could assuredly writen his own in about 10 minutes. Not even getting into how they would have come by such evidence, which I assume means he Googled it from his Zenimax computer. Definitely smells fabricated.

This was on Oculus computers though. Plus he admitted to stealing the data