[EN]: Zynga is getting into more problems as of recent. According to EA/Maxis, Zynga’s social game The Ville has way too many similarities when compared to EA’s The Sims Social (which was launched in August 2011). The Ville made its debut in June of this year, and the General Manager at Maxis mentioned briefly in a blog post the many elements of The Sims Social do appear in Zynga’s game.
In a recent complaint filed by EA, the company not only explains in detail the many similarities, but also mentions the names of the former executives who went to work on Zynga after having work in TSS. Those executives knew a lot about the design and development of Maxis’ game.
Read the attached document for more detailed info.
[ES]: Más problemas le están llegando a Zynga recientemente. Según EA/Maxis, el juego social de Zynga, The Ville, lleva muchas similaridades al ser comparado con The Sims Social de EA (que fue lanzado en agosto del 2011). The Ville hizo su debut en junio de este año, y la gerente general de Maxis mencionó en breve los varios elementos de The Sims Social que aparecen en el juego de Zynga.
En una denuncia reciente presentada por EA, la empresa no solo explica en detalle las varias similaridades, sino que menciona los nombres de los ex-ejecutivos que fueron a trabajar con Zynga tras haber trabajado en TSS. Aquellos ejecutivos sabían bastante del diseño y desarrollo del juego de Maxis.
Lean el documento adjunto para más información detallada (en inglés).
[EN– EA Press Release]
EA Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Zynga
The Ville is an “Unmistakable Copy” of EA’s The Sims Social
“Today, we hope to be taking a stand that helps the industry protect the value of original creative works and those that work tirelessly to create them.”
In the complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on August 3, 2012, EA claims that in Zynga’s recently-released Facebook game The Ville, Zynga has willfully and intentionally “copied and misappropriated the original and distinctive expressive elements of The Sims Social in a violation of U.S. copyright laws.” The Sims Social, launched in August 2011, brought the distinctive universe of EA’s world-renowned franchise, The Sims, to the social gaming audience on Facebook. An instant hit, The Sims Social rapidly gained tens of millions of users, and maintains a current user base of several million active players on Facebook. In the complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on August 3, 2012, EA claims that in Zynga’s recently-released Facebook game The Ville, Zynga has willfully and intentionally “copied and misappropriated the original and distinctive expressive elements of The Sims Social in a violation of U.S. copyright laws.”
The Sims Social, launched in August 2011, brought the distinctive universe of EA’s world-renowned franchise, The Sims, to the social gaming audience on Facebook. An instant hit, The Sims Social rapidly gained tens of millions of users, and maintains a current user base of several million active players on Facebook.
Lucy Bradshaw, General Manager of EA’s Maxis Label, commented on the lawsuit in a blog posted to EA’s website, www.ea.com:
“As outlined in our complaint, when The Ville was introduced in June 2012, the infringement of The Sims Social was unmistakable to those of us at Maxis as well as to players and the industry at large. The similarities go well beyond any superficial resemblance. Zynga’s design choices, animations, visual arrangements and character motions and actions have been directly lifted from The Sims Social. The copying was so comprehensive that the two games are, to an uninitiated observer, largely indistinguishable. Scores of media and bloggers commented on the blatant mimicry.
“This is a case of principle. Maxis isn’t the first studio to claim that Zynga copied its creative product. But we are the studio that has the financial and corporate resources to stand up and do something about it. Infringing a developer’s copyright is not an acceptable practice in game development. By calling Zynga out on this illegal practice, we hope to have a secondary effect of protecting the rights of other creative studios who don’t have the resources to protect themselves.
“Today, we hope to be taking a stand that helps the industry protect the value of original creative works and those that work tirelessly to create them.”
To read the entire post, visit: https://www.ea.com/news/eamaxis-sue-zynga-for-copyright-infringement.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and social networks. EA has more than 220 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.
In fiscal 2012, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield™ and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at https://info.ea.com.
The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. Battlefield is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
[EN– EA v Zynga Complaint (Final)]
[Sources/Fuentes]: Scribd: EA v Zynga Complaint (Final) [https://www.scribd.com/doc/101954002/EA-v-Zynga-Complaint-Final].
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