(Posted by: Kyle)
In a lawsuit filed back in 2008, Johathan Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer B. Dath of Davis, California claimed that God of War designer David Jaffe stole their original copyrighted material for use in the God of War series.
The plaintiffs cite specific examples from their work including two original screenplays based on Greek mythology where a mortal human goes on a quest on behalf of a Greek God. Other similar plot points include a fight with the god Ares and interaction with the god Athena.
Judge Marlyn Hall Patel dismissed the copyright claim on the grounds that the specific plot material is unrelated.
"No one can own the basic idea for a story. General plot ideas are not protected by copyright law; they remain forever the common property of artistic mankind," the court decided.
Considering this "general plot idea" was the grounds for one of the best action games ever; I'd chalk it up as a win for gamers as well as David Jaffe and SCEA.
The plaintiffs cite specific examples from their work including two original screenplays based on Greek mythology where a mortal human goes on a quest on behalf of a Greek God. Other similar plot points include a fight with the god Ares and interaction with the god Athena.
Judge Marlyn Hall Patel dismissed the copyright claim on the grounds that the specific plot material is unrelated.
"No one can own the basic idea for a story. General plot ideas are not protected by copyright law; they remain forever the common property of artistic mankind," the court decided.
Considering this "general plot idea" was the grounds for one of the best action games ever; I'd chalk it up as a win for gamers as well as David Jaffe and SCEA.
