The lights are on
John Beiswenger, author of "Link," has taken Ubisoft to court over claims the publisher lifted story ideas from his novel to create the Assassin's Creed universe.
The complaint, which was filed earlier this week in a Pennsylvania court, outlines many of the similarities between the book and the game. In "Link," the plot introduces the conception and creation "of a device and process whereby ancestral memories can be accessed, recalled, relived, and re-experienced by the user."
Both also include spiritual and religious tones, assassinations, and characters experiencing historical events through their ancestors’ memories. "Ubisoft have directly copied, and directly and contributorily infringed on the whole of Plaintiff’s copyrighted work," the lawsuit claims. "Link" was first published in 2003.
Beiswenger is seeking 1.05 million in damages and up to $5.25 million if the judge rules Ubisoft knowingly infringed on the copyright, in addition to halting the release of Assassin's Creed III and related products.
Ubisoft said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
The complaint in PDF form can be read here.
[via Patent Arcade]
Halting Assassins Creed III oh HELL NO!!!!!!!! Screw This!
Who else didn't see this coming?
I dont understand what this guy wants he want to be paid and then keep the game from coming out. many forms of media have been used as inspiration from one another and honestly unless Altair, Ezio Desmond and Conner made an appearance in just the same way he honestly has no case and also why did he wait till now over five years after the first game came out to file a complaint about the game after all the publicity it has has i feel that the court wont see as much as a similarity between the two stories as Eiswenger would want and will be put aside due to the fact that the game has such a higher fan base than this book and has done far better than it including all the merchandise included in Assassin's Creed.
The Templars are trying to stop us from finding out the truth by stopping the Assassins Creed series.
wtf
Ok, assassin's creed has been out for a few years but NOW this guy wants to sue Ubisoft for it? Stop watching The Social Network and move on with life.
And WB sues him for stealing the concept of jacking into the matrix. Just at any time period you want.
I call shannigans!
Look up Altered States....
A movie that features the story of a scientist using drugs and a water tank to try and get in touch with the memories of his DNA including the very being of the cesspool of our existence. He gets so in touch with the basis of his DNA that he actually becomes these creatures. So yes, the story has scientist using the memories of his DNA to kind of become his ancestors in order to uncover deep secrets. Scientist use hypnosis to try and get their patients to remember suppressed memories and "previous lives." This story and others like it are so old and played out its not even original.
Its the minor factors that make each story different, not the overlying theme. Minority Report, Total Recall, I, Robot., Terminator, A.I. These stories use very similar subjects yet they are all different because of the details used to create the story.
This "author" needs to get from under his rock and write new stories instead of relying on suing others that had a better idea than his. My assumption is that he has writers block and this was his way out.
I swear to god this better not halt the release of ACIII. We haven't even seen gameplay for it for christs sake
Accessing memories from DNA is not a new idea. This guy is nuts. Also, if this delays the release of ACIII I'll probably find him and do terrible things.