Sony & David Jaffe Sued for Alleged God of War Copyright

by Reece Heywood at Sep 17, 2008 3:47pm

Claimed by the guy’s over at GamePolitics, both Sony and David Jaffe have been sued for alleged copyright infringement involving the best-selling God of War series.

The suit was filed in late February by Jonathan Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer Barrette-Herzog, both of Davis, California. SCEA and Jaffe filed responses with the Court on August 29th.

In the complaint, Bissoon-Dath identifies himself as “the author of a series of related works of fiction, including Olympiad, a screenplay.” Barrette-Herzog is described as the creator of Island at the Edge of the Living World, “a map that was submitted with Bissoon-Dath’s work: The Adventures of Own: Owen’s Olympic Adventure.”

• Plaintiff’s works tell the original story of how a champion saves Athens from destruction by the invading Spartan army that has been sent by Ares… [GoW]… is the story of how a champion chosen by Zeus and Athens saves Athen from destruction by an invading army sent by Ares…

• In plaintiff’s original work and God of War, the Champion’s family is hacked to death in a one-room building in a small peaceful village. In both stories the Champion feels partially responsible even though he is not really to blame…

• In exchange for Kratos’ pledge, Ares gives him… the Blades of Chaos… two massive, glowing, sword-like blades fastened to chains fused to Kratos’s wrists… These Blade of Chaos are taken directly from a scene in Bissoon-Dath’s work… “As Zeus strides forward… his hands MORPH into two massive swords that glow like light sabers…”

• …Owen must cross the Bottomless Valley over a long, sagging suspension bridge, shown on Barrette-Herzog’s map… in God of War Kratos must cross the Bottomless Chasm on a long, sagging suspension bridge…

You can read more on this story here: www.GamePolitics.com