Activision Lawsuit: Former Infinity Ward Heads 'Insubordinate and Self-Serving Schemers'

Activision has responded to a lawsuit by the former heads of "Modern Warfare 2" developer, Infinity Ward, with their own lawsuit against the pair. Jason West and Vince Zampella were fired from Activision in March and quickly shot back with a lawsuit claiming that Activision dismissed them so that the company wouldn't have to pay large "Modern Warfare 2"-related royalties. Activision's own lawsuit paints Zampella and West as "insubordinate and self-serving schemers who attempted to hijack Activision's assets for their own personal gain," according to a report by the LA Times.

Activision's lawsuit claims that Zampella and West took a meeting with the company's closest competitor, located in northern California, to facilitate plans for the duo to break off and start a new development studio. Though not named in the suit, the company being referred to is almost certainly Electronic Arts, located in Redwood City, California.

The new lawsuit even goes so far as to claim that Zampella and West actively prevented the payout of royalties to Infinity Ward staffers so as not to discourage the poaching of those employees by the forthcoming (and currently theoretical) new development house.

The summary of the suit is a pretty clear offensive against the pair: "West and Zampella's misdeeds formed an unlawful pattern and practice of conduct that was designed to steal the [Infinity West] studio, which is one of Activision's most valuable assets -- at the expense of Activision and its shareholders and for their own personal financial gain."

It's highly unlikely that we'll ever see this case make it to trial (though, if it does, gaming trial of the century!), but however it ends up, it's an interesting look into the constant conflict between a massive publishing company and its star development house.

Tags activision, infinity ward