Support NeoGAF

[crimsonheadGCN]

In a complaint filed in New York federal court on Jan. 9, South Korea-based NCsoft, which specializes in massively multiplayer online role-playing games, or MMORPGs, says it has brought similar claims against Bluehole and its ex-employees in Korea, but that Bluehole is now planning to release an English-language version of its game in the U.S.

NCsoft maintains that Bluehole and its U.S. subsidiary En Masse Entertainment Inc. were founded by a group of NCsoft employees who quit to go into business for themselves in the midst of creating a new game called Lineage 3.

“These individuals did not leave NCsoft empty-handed or with benign intent,” the complaint alleges. “To the contrary, they made off with copious amounts of confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software, hardware and artwork relating to Lineage 3.”

“Their business plan was simple and audacious: create a competing product using the very work they had done while at NCsoft, launch it themselves to great fanfare and acclaim, and, in the process, deal a crippling blow to their former employer,” the complaint said.

The former employees were convicted in Korea of stealing trade secrets from NCsoft in 2009, and the convictions were mostly upheld by an appellate court, according to the complaint.

NCsoft also lodged a civil complaint against the individuals and Bluehole in Korea in 2010. The company won damages and an injunction barring the individuals from using NCsoft's proprietary information going forward. However, the damages award was overturned by an appellate court.

Appeals of both the criminal and civil cases are currently pending before Korea's highest court.

Despite the litigation, Bluehole launched its game, Tera, in Korea last year, and has announced plans to release an English version in the U.S., the complaint alleges.

The current lawsuit claims that the U.S. version of Tera makes use of NCsoft's trade secrets, including documents, source code, artwork and know-how related to the development on Lineage 3, and copyrighted works, including concept art created for Lineage 3.

It also asserts claims of breach of confidence, unfair competition and unjust enrichment.

The suit seeks temporary and permanent injunctions blocking the release of Tera in the U.S., as well as enhanced damages for Bluehole's alleged misconduct.

Bluehole was not available for comment on Friday.

NCsoft is represented by Gene W. Lee, Jeanne C. Curtis and Peter J. Brody of Ropes & Gray LLP.

Counsel information for the defendants was not immediately available.

The case is NCsoft Corp. et al. v. Bluehole Studio Inc. et al., case number 1:12-cv-00172, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New York.

http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/01/ncsoft-files-lawsuit-to-thwart-tera.html

 

[kurohana]

I swear I've seen this quite a while ago. Isn't this old news?

 

[Nirolak]

I swear I've seen this quite a while ago. Isn't this old news?

Somewhat.

They sued the employees who left and won, and are now suing the company itself.

 

[crimsonheadGCN]

I swear I've seen this quite a while ago. Isn't this old news?

NCSoft filed a lawsuit in South Korea and won, but Bluehole went ahead and still released TERA. Now they are filing another lawsuit in a New York court, since it's being released in US.

 

[AlphaDragoon]

I fucking hate NCSoft. They already pissed me off way back when by banning me from Aion for no reason ("use of third-party software", uh no guys), and now this?

At least PSO2 will be there regardless of whether or not Tera actually gets blocked somehow.

 

[kurohana]

Hmmm, I see. Bad news seems pretty consistent with this game, at least.

 

[Scum]

Sod the lawsuits! When do I get play Blade & Soul?!

 

[wwm0nkey]

Hopefully it still comes out over here. Loved the Korean version and I've been wanting to play an action based MMO for awhile. Not interested in STOR at all.

 

[Chris_C]

I fucking hate NCSoft. They already pissed me off way back when by banning me from Aion for no reason ("use of third-party software", uh no guys), and now this?

At least PSO2 will be there regardless of whether or not Tera actually gets blocked somehow.

What does this have to do with article?

 

[Parallax]

Here's an idea NCsoft... instead of getting all sue happy, how about you work on getting blade and soul released in the west.

 

[Zeal]

I can personally say that everyone at EnMasse treats their fans and 'testers' like absolute shit. I cannot state how much I hate this publisher with a passion. They banned and silenced numerous people on their forums just for asking questions regarding when the game would release in America or when the beta began. This is a rotten, horrible company.

I was highly anticipating playing Tera for its American release, but after dealing with the downright rudeness and lies of EnMasee, I don't care what the fuck happens with it.

I have no qualms with BlueHole, because Tera is honestly an incredible MMO and probably one of the best I've played. The problem is the horrible publisher that was chosen to localize and release the game here.

 

[Cels]

Interesting. US Dist Court isn't beholden to Korean courts but it certainly doesn't hurt NCSoft that they've already won in Korea over these same issues.

 

[Jira]

I feel bad for Patrick Wyatt, he was one of the co-founders of ArenaNet and left in 2010 to become the COO of En Masse. I don't understand why he would do that when TERA hasn't been well received by Korean fans and will likely be received even worse in NA/EU. The MMO community holds extremely hard grudges and I don't think people are going to be ready to play another Korean MMO after what happened with Aion. This lawsuit just compounds the issue entirely.

 

[AlphaDragoon]

What does this have to do with article?

That they're trying to take away a good looking game and it makes me hate them even more.

 

[Chris_C]

That they're trying to take away a good looking game and it makes me hate them even more.

I understand your sentiment, but if the former employees actually did what they're accused of, then they have every right to "take" this good looking game away, regardless of what anyone feels about them though.

 

[RSLAEV]

I fucking hate NCSoft. They already pissed me off way back when by banning me from Aion for no reason ("use of third-party software", uh no guys), and now this?

At least PSO2 will be there regardless of whether or not Tera actually gets blocked somehow.

Did we ever get confirmation of a Western release of PSO2?

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

Assuming that TERA manages to launch in the US, I wonder if that revamp En Masse Entertainment is working on will be worth the delays.

 

[mysocksarepink]

Did anyone else learn that Lineage 3 is in development from this ?

 

[adam.chance]

Did anyone else learn that Lineage 3 is in development from this ?

Haha, that was my thought, too.

 

[TGMIII]

I feel bad for Patrick Wyatt, he was one of the co-founders of ArenaNet and left in 2010 to become the COO of En Masse. I don't understand why he would do that when TERA hasn't been well received by Korean fans and will likely be received even worse in NA/EU. The MMO community holds extremely hard grudges and I don't think people are going to be ready to play another Korean MMO after what happened with Aion. This lawsuit just compounds the issue entirely.

Wasn't the reason it was poorly received due to there being almost no content at end game and that's the reason the EU/US releases were held back, to have it launch with the updated content of the KR version? If so I don't see why it would be received poorly.

 

[SDBurton]

Sod the lawsuits! When do I get play Blade & Soul?!

Now this is what I care about.