EA Has No Grounds to Sue Zynga

"While it’s true that Zynga definitely doesn’t come up with original games, I would like to provide a counterpoint to all of the negativity surrounding the company: it’s doing nothing new, it’s doing nothing illegal, and it won’t be found guilty in EA’s claims because of this." | Explosion.com

[Lord_Sloth]

Apple had no grounds to sue Samsung about rounded edges on a block. Still happened though.

[3GenGames]

Why would EA not be allowed to sue Zynga for closely related gameplay? Apparently you can! Although, as a game developer, I don't agree with it either.

http://www.wired.com/gameli...

[TrevorPhillips]

Man, I seriously have had enough with all this suing, suing, suing...

[AO1JMM]

Agreed.

[ElitaStorm]

When you're out of ideas and sequels you sue

~EA

[LittleCricket]

Sorry, Elita, but you're wrong here. EA is far from out of ideas for Sequels, since Sims 4 has already been placed on the planning table, and their next expansion pack, for Sims 3, "Seasons" is scheduled to be released shortly. The
"Supernatural" expansion pack is doing VERY well, and players are having a ball with it. I don't anticipate a lack of interest in the franchise to happen any time too soon. As a Simmer, myself, and one who has been playing the game and collecting all of the Expansions and Stuff Packs, along with nearly every item that EA has made available for the game in their on line store, since February of 2000, I can tell you that I'm having as much fun with the game as I ever had. I still see players designing the fantastic homes, the luxurious fashions, and hairstyles, and creating Mods to correct problems with the game, and giving us a lot of great new options and possibilities. No, The Sims game Franchise is going to be around for a very long time.

[ElitaStorm]

@LittleCricket the only reason i said that was because of battlefield 4, its to dam soon for another battlefield

EA should respect their IP's

[LittleCricket]

The only thing I personally have a problem with is your profile picture, and your screen name. It's VERY disrespectful and blasphemous to use the name and image of Christ in a game forum. Shame on you!

[specialguest]

Look at this site I'm linking. This site shows every game Zynga ripped off. Page 2 shows The Social Sims in comparison to The Ville. If that's not blatant ripoff, then I don't know what is.
http://www.forbes.com/sites...

[rainslacker]

I agree all those are ripoffs except the Bingo one...I mean there's only so much you can do with Bingo.

[AO1JMM]

That is for courts to decide but I do agree.

[Fatty]

From the case of OG Intern., Ltd. v. Ubisoft Entertainment:

Copyright infringement requires showing that (1) movant owns copyrights and (2) respondent has created an authorized copy. Data East USA, Inc. v. Epyx, Inc., 862 F.2d 204, 206 (9th Cir.1988). Proof of copying requires showing (1) access to the protected work before creating the accused work and (2) that a substantial similarity of expression exists between the protected and accused works. Narell v. Freeman, 872 F.2d 907, 910 (9th Cir.1989). The Ninth Circuit applies a two-part test to assess similarity, an “extrinsic” inquiry to determine whether the similar elements between the works are protectable, and an “intrinsic” inquiry to determine whether an ordinary reasonable observer would consider the copyrighted and challenged works substantially similar. Mattel, Inc. v. MGA Entm't, Inc., 616 F.3d 904, 913–14 (9th Cir.2010).

If EA can convince the court of those factors, then yeah, they have a case. Seems to me that the sticking point will be "access to the protected work before creating the accused work." If EA bases their case on SimCity, then it seems like they have a good chance. Given the Mattel v. MGA case was the whole Barbies vs. Bratz issue and Barbie won, I can see EA winning over Zynga.

[LittleCricket]

Hey, Fatty, I think we've already established that Zynga is guilty of a rip off here. As I've said. I've played thee "Ville" game, and immediately saw how Zynga had helped themselves to EA's Sim Cities games, then patched everything together very neatly with the elements they took from the Sims Social Game. You'd only have to play through the tutorial to realize that Zynga has once again, helped themselves to another company's work, claiming it as their own, and profitting handsomely from it. Unfortunately for them, this time around, they've ripped of a company that is well known for it's greed and love of profit, and EA isn't just going to let bygones be bygones. With a bit of luck, we may see the end of Zynga, when all of these suits and counter suits are said and done.

[AmayaAi]

You can't help stopping these suing which are mostly for business purpose.