JACK BLACK - LEGAL FIGHT OVER BLACK'S VIDEOGAME HEATS UP

LEGAL FIGHT OVER BLACK'S VIDEOGAME HEATS UP

The makers behind JACK BLACK's videogame debut are hitting back at a breach of contract lawsuit which threatens to jeopardise the release of the project.
Bosses at gaming firm Activision Entertainment Holdings Inc. sued developers Double Fine Productions Inc. in June (09) in an effort to stop the release of Brutal Legend over a contract issue.
The game, which is scheduled for release in October (09), features actor Black as heavy metal roadie Eddie Riggs, who is transported to a mythical ancient world.
They claim the brains at Double Fine failed to deliver the game on time, and then offered the completed game to rivals at EA - even though Activision had never agreed to relinquish their rights.
But Double Fine executives have filed a countersuit, insisting Activision is only taking legal action to protect the sales of its popular Guitar Hero franchise.
The countersuit, filed in a California court last week (ends17Jul09), claims Activision's "purpose is not only to cancel Brutal Legend, but to kill it completely so that Guitar Hero would not have to face the competition".
Activision's lawyers have dismissed the accusations as "meritless", adding that the firm has "every intention of exercising its legal right as Brutal Legend's publisher to release the game".
The two arguments will be heard in court on 30 July (09) when the case goes before a judge.