NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit

Subject: NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:09 am

Some troubling news for TERA fans out there, as NCsoft has filed
another lawsuit against Bluehole Studios, but this time with the
intention of squashing their North American launch of TERA. As a quick
summary of the events thus far, TERA developers Bluehole Studios employs
a large number of ex-NCsoft employees, and this is no odd concidence.
Back in 2008, Lineage 3 project lead, Yong-Hyun Park, left NCsoft with a
large number of employees in tow. Together, this group formed Bluehole
Studios and created TERA, which NCsoft claimed at the time was very similar to Lineage 3 (in other words, NCsoft accused YHP of stealing L3's ideas).

Rumours run rampant from here, and Yong-Hyun Park has since left
Bluehole Studios, citing stress from the NCsoft lawsuits and
accusations. It was rumoured that NCsoft has since scrapped work on
Lineage 3, instead releasing news of Lineage Eternal at
this year's G-Star 2011 trade show. Regardless, NCsoft sued Bluehole
Studios and won in 2009, but the case was appealed down the line. Now,
with the announced launch of TERA, NCsoft is back at it again, as MMO Culture is reporting that another lawsuit has been filed,
accusing Bluehole Studios of making off with "copious amounts of
confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software,
hardware and artwork relating to Lineage 3." We'll keep you posted on
how this turns out in the future.

Subject: Re: NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:13 am

Bluehole studio and its U.S. branch En Masse are readying the MMORPG Tera for a U.S. release, but South Korea-headquartered MMO publisher NCsoft is hoping to put the kibosh on those plans.

In a January 9 complaint filed in New York federal court, NCsoft alleged
that Bluehole, founded by ex-NCsoft employees, stole "copious amounts
of confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software,
hardware and artwork relating to [major NCsoft MMO] Lineage 3," according to a report on MMO Culture.

"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," NCsoft's complaint continued.

In 2009, the former employees were convicted of stealing NCsoft trade
secrets following a lawsuit in Korea. In 2010, they were barred from
using proprietary NCsoft information, and ordered to pay damages to
their former employer, although the damages ruling was overturned during
the appeals process. Bluehole employees are appealing the other
rulings.

Despite the legal proceedings, Tera launched in Korea last year,
and is slated for a U.S. release in May. NCsoft's suit seeks damages and
temporary and permanent injunctions to block the release of Tera in the U.S.

Subject: Re: NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:39 pm

Shu wrote:: Bluehole studio and its U.S. branch En Masse are readying the MMORPG Tera for a U.S. release, but South Korea-headquartered MMO publisher NCsoft is hoping to put the kibosh on those plans.

In a January 9 complaint filed in New York federal court, NCsoft alleged
that Bluehole, founded by ex-NCsoft employees, stole "copious amounts
of confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software,
hardware and artwork relating to [major NCsoft MMO] Lineage 3," according to a report on MMO Culture.

"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," NCsoft's complaint continued.

In 2009, the former employees were convicted of stealing NCsoft trade
secrets following a lawsuit in Korea. In 2010, they were barred from
using proprietary NCsoft information, and ordered to pay damages to
their former employer, although the damages ruling was overturned during
the appeals process. Bluehole employees are appealing the other
rulings.

Despite the legal proceedings, Tera launched in Korea last year,
and is slated for a U.S. release in May. NCsoft's suit seeks damages and
temporary and permanent injunctions to block the release of Tera in the U.S.

That's really messed up.

So i guess NCsoft does not like competition.

It i didn't know any better, it seems to me that NCsoft just doesn't like the fact that their ex-NCsoft employees are taking things that they've learned while working for NCsoft, and appealing that knowledge to better themselves in a completely different venture. I just do not see how this is related to stealing of proprietary information.

Because for as far as we know, some of this proprietary information may not even be NCsoft intellectual property. And the claiming of stolen software and hardware is pretty damn flimsy, maybe not in Korean courts but here in "America", things are different when it comes to the law. Because "it's not what you know, it's what you can prove in court"

So good luck to NCsoft in proving all this outside of Korean courts, because it's very circumstantial. Boy i bet NCsoft hates that word right now: "Circumstantial"

Subject: Re: NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:21 pm

NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Tera

Following allegations of theft
from MMO publisher NCSoft, Bluehole Studio and its U.S. publisher En
Masse Entertainment revealed today that they plan to fight these claims,
and protect the U.S. launch of the fantasy MMO, Tera.

Earlier this month, NCSoft filed a complaint claiming that Bluehole built Tera using stolen assets from the popular MMO Lineage 3, and is seeking temporary and permanent injunctions to block the release of the title in the U.S.

Responding to these allegations, En Masse VP of Publishing Chris Lee said in a recent forum post that his company is prepared to do whatever it takes to defend Tera's release.

"We are disappointed that NCsoft is attempting to mar the launch of Tera,"
he said. "Unfortunately we can't discuss much publicly due to the
sensitivity of legal actions, but we do outright reject the NCsoft
claims, and we are going to do everything in our power to defend and
protect ourselves."

Lee further said that any legal proceedings would not affect Tera itself, and that En Masse still plans to launch the game in the U.S. on May 1.

Prior to this recent conflict, NCSoft and Bluehole ran into legal
trouble in 2009, when a number of ex-NCSoft employees (now at Bluehole)
stood accused of stealing trade secrets from their former employer. The
final ruling for this case has yet to be decided, however, as it has
been held up by the appeals process.

Despite the surrounding legal troubles, Tera launched in Korea last year, and is scheduled to launch in the U.S. on May 1 and in Europe on May 3.

Subject: Re: NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:03 pm

The day before yesterday, the news came out that NCsoft sued TERA developer Bluehole and North American publisher En Masse Entertainment
to block the game's launch in the western market which is set on May
1st. Then En Masse Entertainment's Publishing VP Chris Lee has responsed
to this issue, stating that the firm "outright rejects" NCsoft's position and will do everything they can to protect themselves and launch TERA on time on May 1.

NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Tera1

"We are disappointed that NCsoft is attempting to mar
the launch of TERA. Unfortunately we can't discuss much publicly due to
the sensitivity of legal actions, but we do outright reject the NCsoft
claims, and we are going to do everything in our power to defend and
protect ourselves.

To all our supporters who have been anticipating the
arrival of TERA – please know that this situation has no impact on our
continuing efforts to realize the vision we have for our game. We are
committed to making TERA awesome and delivering the game to you on time
on May 1. Thank you for your patience and support."

Source: TERA forums

NCsoft Hoping to Squash TERA with Lawsuit Tera3

NCsoft alleged that former NCsoft employees of Bluehole
Studio and En Masse Entertainment of stealing "copious amounts of
confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software,
hardware and artwork relating to [NCsoft MMO] Lineage 3."

Will the lawsuit affect the launch of TERA in North America? Let's wait and see how this issue developed.

Source: TERA forums

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