Oh dear, oh dear. The developers behind ARK: Survival Evolved (Studio Wildcard) are facing a lawsuit from the developers behind Dungeon Defenders (Trendy Entertainment).
The games are very different, but it's a people and contracts issue here. It sounds like someone has a vendetta against someone else.
It all revolves around a contract, and apparently Jeremy Stieglitz who used to work for Trendy Entertainment and apparently breached it by joining Studio Wildcard to work on ARK: Survival Evolved. Tredy Entertainment seems to require people who leave not to compete with the studio by making games for three years. Personally, I think these sorts of contracts do no good, and I am not a fan of them. I am surprised such a contract is even legal!
I am always fascinated by these sorts of lawsuits, as surely this is going to backfire on Trendy Entertainment and have a bad effect on their Dungeon Defenders games? They are already getting bad reviews for going after another developer, and their forum is filling up with angry posts. This won't end well.
To me, it sounds rather a lot like an issue of jealousy, as a developer moved onto a game that became wildly successful and they want a piece of the pie.
Thanks, Kotaku.
How do you feel about this? I know quite a lot of people really like ARK, so I hope this doesn't set development back. It could push ARK off Steam for a while, which would be a shame. Can you imagine the hell their forum and reviews would turn into ARK got forced off of Steam? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
The games are very different, but it's a people and contracts issue here. It sounds like someone has a vendetta against someone else.
It all revolves around a contract, and apparently Jeremy Stieglitz who used to work for Trendy Entertainment and apparently breached it by joining Studio Wildcard to work on ARK: Survival Evolved. Tredy Entertainment seems to require people who leave not to compete with the studio by making games for three years. Personally, I think these sorts of contracts do no good, and I am not a fan of them. I am surprised such a contract is even legal!
I am always fascinated by these sorts of lawsuits, as surely this is going to backfire on Trendy Entertainment and have a bad effect on their Dungeon Defenders games? They are already getting bad reviews for going after another developer, and their forum is filling up with angry posts. This won't end well.
To me, it sounds rather a lot like an issue of jealousy, as a developer moved onto a game that became wildly successful and they want a piece of the pie.
Thanks, Kotaku.
How do you feel about this? I know quite a lot of people really like ARK, so I hope this doesn't set development back. It could push ARK off Steam for a while, which would be a shame. Can you imagine the hell their forum and reviews would turn into ARK got forced off of Steam? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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so far from reading everything, other than Jeremy "poaching" employees (which he apparently agreed) from Trendy everything else seems circumstantial, because the company is registered between Jesse Rapczak and Susan Stieglitz (Jeremy's wife). and Jesse has said Jeremy has only consulted.. although it seems rather fishy. unless Trendy has really good evidence to confirm anything, I'd wager this will be thrown out eventually. But it looks like we may have to endure ARK being taken off of steam for awhile, If this isn't thrown out very soon.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 29 March 2016 at 1:00 pm UTC
Last edited by neowiz73 on 29 March 2016 at 1:00 pm UTC
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QuoteI am surprised such a contract is even legal!
Actually, here in Austria this is not legal. Clauses like this in contracts can be ignored, they won't stand any curt or judge.
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StianTheDark Mar 29, 2016
The Dungeon Defeners developers are going to get a lot of free advertisement now. They're pretty good at that it seems ;)
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He signed a contract which to me means something.... So if he broke it then he can just suck it up butter cup and get sued :).
Contract
Contract
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linux_gamer Mar 29, 2016
Quoting: liamdaweTrendy Entertainment seems to require people who leave not to compete with the studio by making games for three years. Personally, I think these sorts of contracts do no good, and I am not a fan of them. I am surprised such a contract is even legal!Only a crazy person would sign that kind of contract, or? I would do so only if there is a severance pay worth three annuities.
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GustyGhost Mar 29, 2016
If Trendy spent more time fixing their Linux builds than on petty lawsuits maybe they would have a happier fanbase.
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I would never sign a contract that guarantees to put me out of work in my field for 3 years... Trendy is not winning me over - pretty scummy to have that clause in the first place. But then, it's a dummy who would sign it.
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If the contract ended with the company any clausule can not work after the end of it. Contract is over!
Last edited by bubexel on 29 March 2016 at 1:55 pm UTC
Last edited by bubexel on 29 March 2016 at 1:55 pm UTC
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Yeah, usually NCA are followed up by paying you wage for three years. Anyway, wasting time in court seems a bit personal. Stupid way to waste resources if you ask me.
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Quoting: GuestAt most I would expect some form of compensation to Trendy if it goes their way, but I would really be surprised if Ark was removed from Steam though.
Anyway, I am not a lawyer.
I would wonder what would be basis of such drastic legal step. NCA doesn't say all work you do for next three years belong to your former employer. It just say you can't compete - and your former employer then pays you if you can't do otherwise.
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