West, Zampella have no chance of getting Modern Warfare rights

[Terminator02]

In addition to being the official economic soothsayer of the gaming industry, Michael Pachter knows a thing or two about legal affairs. Actually, he has a pair of law degrees, so odds are good that he knows more than two things. Regardless, he recently sounded off to IndustryGamers about former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella's chances of gaining ownership of the Modern Warfare brand form Activision through legal action. His opinion? They've got "no prayer."

Pachter suggested that any claim the two may have had on the brand was lost when their employment was terminated, saying, "They have never claimed that they 'own' the brand; instead, they claim that they were granted creative control over the brand under their employment agreement." Pachter added that a theoretical solution for West and Zampella would be to seek reemployment (yeah right) under a wrongful termination claim, though he noted, "That is simply not what West and Zampella are seeking here."[/p]

Source (Joystiq)

 

[Law]

All they need to do is set it 30 years in the future and name it Futuristic Battlefields, and instead of Soap they can call the main character Aftershave or something. Deodorant maybe. Shower gel?

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Isnt that common sense?
When you work as an employee, you dont own what you produce?

 

[MaxNuker]

as you work for a company, the company holds the rights over the product, i think...

 

[ByteMunch]

All they need to do is set it 30 years in the future and name it Futuristic Battlefields, and instead of Soap they can call the main character Aftershave or something. Deodorant maybe. Shower gel?

I would pay full price just for the lulz.

 

[purplesludge]

@tanveer, Maxnuker
It depends on the terms of your contract. Usually the company owns what you create is part of the contract.

 

[MaxNuker]

yeah, so if they worked for the company, most likely their contract said that everything related to games for the company would be property of the company..

 

[Guild McCommunist]

THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP A NEW IP????

THE HORROR.

THE HORROR.

Seriously, just make Holler of Necessity: Current Conflict, add (as Law said) Body Wash instead of Soap, Cricket instead of Roach, and there ya go. Completely original.