In this months article I will discuss Sega's most recent dealings with the law. As reported by Reuters, Sega of America has filed a suit against Electronic Arts and a division of Fox Entertainment. Sega is alleging the 2001 video game "Simpsons Road Rage," developed by Radical and Fox Interactive and published by EA, was designed to "deliberately copy and imitate" the Sega game "Crazy Taxi," according to court documents. Sega holds a U.S. patent, known as the '138 patent, on "Crazy Taxi," in which players take the role of a taxi driver who has to accomplish outrageous driving stunts to pick up passengers and quickly deliver them to their destinations.
Sega cited reviews by video game publications of "Simpsons Road Rage" that said the game was very similar to "Crazy Taxi," including one that characterized "Road Rage" as a "shameless incident of design burglary." The suit asks the court to stop the sale and import of "Simpsons Road Rage," which has sold more than 1 million copies to date, as well as for damages for lost profits and a recall of any copies of the game available at retail.
Having played the game and owning it the Dreamcast Magic Team does see there is some very real merit to this case and Sega might just win it. |
