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YouTube Streamer Criken sued over his Kickstarter game, I.C.U.

taco543

Member
Just sounds like one guy letting his hubris get in the way of business partnership and is now going to suffer for it by breaching contract.
 

BY2K

Membero Americo
Zachary Suite and Keenan created I.C.U. together as students at USC. As a co-creator and the Lead Designer of I.C.U. since day one, Zachary has poured countless hours into the creation and design. Due solely to Keenan’s greed in wanting to cut out a co-founder, and in complete disregard of Zachary’s rights, Keenan released I.C.U. on Kickstarter with absolutely zero mention of Zachary and he has yet to transfer Zachary’s rightful portion of ownership in I.C.U. Games, LLC to him.

Dude, what the fuck.

And I loved Criken's videos. :(
 

Jb

Member
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Interesting that the game started as a University project. I'm fairly certain that means in most cases the game is property of the University (Unless they got the rights back, which that particular article fails to mention). Ironically, the reason Universities do this (At least, my University anyway) is to prevent students from taking legal action against each other when one student tries to run away with the IP.

Either way, not having things in writing is 100% amateur hour.
 
This is fucked up, and I loved Criken's videos. But now, Criken has become a greedy bastard for kicking that guy out of the contract. I hope you lose Criken, and I hope that guy wins.
 

Chittagong

Gold Member
If that email is legit the lawsuit will be a slam dunk.

How petty / stupid/ greedy though, doesn't quite add up why someone would think they could get away with something like that
 

Trace

Banned
If that email is legit the lawsuit will be a slam dunk.

How petty / stupid/ greedy though, doesn't quite add up why someone would think they could get away with something like that

Assuming it was sent to every team member, it's fairly easy to find out if it is.
 
Oh, this was a terrible move by Criken... Why would you do that, especially when you have a decent following on the internet. Hope Zachary gets his rewards for working hard.
 

Dusk Golem

A 21st Century Rockefeller
I actually am right now supporting this game on Kickstarter, its kickstarter ends in a few days, oh dear.

To debate what to do.
 

Trace

Banned
Wow what a scumbag. Finished reading over it all and it's pretty damning.

I actually am right now supporting this game on Kickstarter, its kickstarter ends in a few days, oh dear.

To debate what to do.

Why would you debate that? Remove your pledge until he comes out with evidence that says otherwise.
 
Wow, I would have never guessed he would do something like that. I remember playing games with him on the 360 a lot and still have him on my friends list. I don't know how to feel, but this doesn't seem like there would be a chance that there is something not wrong with this suit. I hope it can be resolved correctly.
 

Compsiox

Banned
I actually am right now supporting this game on Kickstarter, its kickstarter ends in a few days, oh dear.

To debate what to do.

How is that even a debate. Don't support this crap. After this lawsuit it's probably all going to fall apart anyway.
 

exemp30

Member
How is that even a debate. Don't support this crap. After this lawsuit it's probably all going to fall apart anyway.
I get the guy's a jerk but what about the other people I feel like they should still be supported right? What did they do wrong.
 

Sheytan

Member
Interesting that the game started as a University project. I'm fairly certain that means in most cases the game is property of the University (Unless they got the rights back, which that particular article fails to mention). Ironically, the reason Universities do this (At least, my University anyway) is to prevent students from taking legal action against each other when one student tries to run away with the IP.

Either way, not having things in writing is 100% amateur hour.

So in USA a researcher/student at a university aren't allowed to keep patents for their own work?

In Sweden a researcher or a student have the right to patent their own work.
 
So in USA a researcher/student at a university aren't allowed to keep patents for their own work?

In Sweden a researcher or a student have the right to patent their own work.

Patents are always properties of the creator. A game is not a patent, and does not work under the same laws. Rights can be waived.
 

Dusk Golem

A 21st Century Rockefeller
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Left my comment and going to cancel my pledge. Kickstarter creators can't delete comments, only report them and the Kickstarter admins won't delete comments unless they break rules (ie slander, abuse, etc.), so hope it makes some people think on it.
 

Diancecht

Member
Jesus. Is every YouTuber an asshat? I remember this kid from his L4D videos, he used make really entertaining and fun videos. It turns out he is just a greedy fuck.
 
I read this and confused criken and cr1tikal and couldnt believe it.

Criken's done streams/videos with cr1tikal and Vinny from vinesauce in the past. He also made that ridiculous Nicholas Cage Majora's Mask hack. And he did the best Dark Souls 3 series on youtube. Generally a really funny guy all around. Shame he's apparently a big jerk.
 

Kamina

Golden Boy
Is it Criken2 on youtube? The one who made Edward Emberpants?
If so then wow; so disappointed since i loved the Emberpants series 😔
 
Is it Criken2 on youtube? The one who made Edward Emberpants?
If so then wow; so disappointed since i loved the Emberpants series 😔

The one in the same, friend. It's a shame to know that Criken is a cold calculating bastard and a sleazy business partner. Hope that Kickstarter crumbles on him.
 

NervousXtian

Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
I'm sure there's another side to this story, all you have is a statement from the other guy's lawyer.

People really should wait for at-least a response before damning him completely.
 

Dusk Golem

A 21st Century Rockefeller
I'm sure there's another side to this story, all you have is a statement from the other guy's lawyer.

People really should wait for at-least a response before damning him completely.

That is where I stand and why I haven't cancelled 100% (I'll see if they have a response to my comment, ignore it, try to remove it, etc.), but if no response I will be cancelling my pledge before the Kickstarter goes through and raise some awareness of it.
 
So in USA a researcher/student at a university aren't allowed to keep patents for their own work?

In Sweden a researcher or a student have the right to patent their own work.

I'm from the UK. AFAIK, everything I made whilst at university became the property of the University. It was incredibly simple to get it back (Literally just had to ask and then they got the legal paperwork) but it would all default to being owned by the Uni.

Maybe it isn't the way it works everywhere, I just assumed it was. Made sense as well due to the large number of group projects and things we worked on. Prevented situations like this from happening.
 
I'm from the UK. AFAIK, everything I made whilst at university became the property of the University. It was incredibly simple to get it back (Literally just had to ask and then they got the legal paperwork) but it would all default to being owned by the Uni.

Maybe it isn't the way it works everywhere, I just assumed it was. Made sense as well due to the large number of group projects and things we worked on. Prevented situations like this from happening.

I believe that each university has their own policy.
 

Jb

Member
I'm sure there's another side to this story, all you have is a statement from the other guy's lawyer.

People really should wait for at-least a response before damning him completely.

Right. What we have seems pretty damning but let's maybe wait for his answer before casting judgment. Whatever the truth is this is pretty sad.
 
I'm from the UK. AFAIK, everything I made whilst at university became the property of the University. It was incredibly simple to get it back (Literally just had to ask and then they got the legal paperwork) but it would all default to being owned by the Uni.

Maybe it isn't the way it works everywhere, I just assumed it was. Made sense as well due to the large number of group projects and things we worked on. Prevented situations like this from happening.

Universities here in the US commonly tout their "student entrepreneurs" who spin off final projects into small businesses, so we likely have the same system too.

Now if you're paid by the university as an employee, such as a postdoc or a research assistant (not including graduate students, who are not technically employees,) then it's a completely different ballgame.
 
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