Tag Archives: genius

What the world needs is more music-related tat to clutter up the fragile lives of normal people. Thankfully, then, Numark and Genius showed the Scratch: The Ultimate DJ controller today, ahead of an E3 showing next week.

We thought this was on a sticky wicket? Anyway. Press release and shots after the break.

More »

Fucking handbags. 7 Studios – read “Activision” – has counter-sued Genius over Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, claiming the developer has engaged in a “textbook case of unlawful and unsavory business practices.” It wants $1 million in damages.

Genius has already sued Acti and 7 Studios over Scratch, claiming they conspired to delay the game in to benefit DJ Hero’s release.

No so, says Activision. Not only was Genius forced to delay Scratch because it didn’t approval for the title from Microsoft and Sony, but it had only included 25 percent of the game’s tracks three months before it was supposed to be completed. Allegedly.

Get many hundreds of words on the matter from Variety.

Activision has been ordered to return code for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ to developer Genius.

The ruling came as part of the same hearing that said last week that there “no evidence of wrongdoing” on the part of Activision in the case.

“There is evidence that…7 Studios has a duty to return the work product, source code, and software of the plaintiff [Genius],” said the judge in the hearing, as reported by Gamespot.

The judge added, talking to Activision’s lawyer: “It is actually very straightforward. They hired you. They have terminated the deal. Their agreement requires return of materials. No matter how you slice this banana, they are entitled to the work product back. I don’t know why your client would want to continue working on a project for which they have been terminated.”

Why indeed. The judge wrapped things up in an apparently testy manner.

“You [Activision] turn over the source code, and then if you want it back, you can argue on May 6th as to why you should get it back. I can’t under any circumstance think why you would be entitled to keep the source code.”

And added: “Show me anywhere where you can refuse to turn over source code because it incorporates your pre-existing tools and technology. … They can use it for any purpose. It is theirs. It belongs to them. They paid $6 million for it. I’m done.”

The complaint against Activision and 7 Studios alleges that the companies conspired to withhold and delay the release of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ.

The LA Superior Court has found “no evidence of wrongdoing” in the complaint filed by Genius Products this week against Activision in relation to Scratch: The Ultimate DJ’s developer, and has refused to grant the return of assets requested.

“These allegations are nothing more than an attempt by Genius to place blame for the game’s delay, as well as to divert attention from the cash flow, liquidity and revenue challenges Genius detailed in its March 30, 2009, SEC filing,” said Activision in a statement.

“By their own admission in October 2008, the game had fallen behind in production, which was well before Activision had any involvement with Genius, Numark or California 7 Studios regarding the game.”

Genius’s original complaint demanded the return of all game assets from Acti.

More on GI.