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ZeniMax files suit against Oculus for misappropriating trade secrets

IP dispute heads to courts

ZeniMax files suit against Oculus for misappropriating trade secrets

The Elder Scrolls publisher ZeniMax has officially filed suit against Oculus VR and its founder Palmer Luckey for allegedly misappropriating trade secrets.

At the core of the suit is the claim that Oculus/Luckey illegally gained access to "ZeniMax trade secrets relating to virtual reality technology, and infringing ZeniMax copyrights and trademarks" after Doom lead programmer John Carmack left ZeniMax subsidiary id Software for Oculus.

But that's not the sum of ZeniMax's legal grievances.

It also intends to go after Oculus for "breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and unfair competition against the defendants" in the suit, which was filed in a US federal court.

Diplomacy fails

In a press release related to the suit, ZeniMax notes that the suit comes after "[a]ll efforts by ZeniMax to resolve this matter amicably have been unsuccessful."

The press release goes on to reference Oculus' public statement from early May, which boldly stated that "all of its [ZeniMax''] claims are false" and noted that John Carmack did not take any intellectual property from ZeniMax.

Unsurprisingly, ZeniMax - and its lawyers - did not agree with this version of the story.

"ZeniMax and id Software take their intellectual property rights seriously," said P. Anthony Sammi, a Partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP which is representing both ZeniMax and id Software in the suit.

"We now look to the federal courts and will pursue all appropriate measures available under the law to rectify defendants' egregious conduct," he concluded.


US Correspondent

Representing the former colonies, Matt keeps the Pocket Gamer news feed updated when sleepy Europeans are sleeping. As a frustrated journalist, diehard gamer and recovering MMO addict, this is pretty much his dream job.