Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE COMPANY BEHIND the successful Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, is suing the BBC for their proposed film drama based on the series and the controversies that followed it.
Rockstar Games, the US company that makes the GTA series, issued a statement via its parent company Take-Two Interactive saying it was taking action against the BBC for trademark infringement.
The company said that it had no involvement in the project and wanted to ensure its trademarks were not “misused in the BBC’s pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events.”
A statement issued to IGN said the following:
“Take-Two Interactive has filed suit against the BBC for trademark infringement based on their movie currently titled ‘Game Changer’ as it relates to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto video game series.
“While holders of the trademarks referenced in the film title and its promotion, Rockstar Games has had no involvement with this project. Our goal is to ensure that our trademarks are not misused in the BBC’s pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events related to Rockstar Games. We have attempted multiple times to resolve this matter with the BBC without any meaningful resolution. It is our obligation to protect our intellectual property and unfortunately in this case litigation was necessary.”
BBC Two had planned to create a 90-minute special about the creation of Grand Theft Auto and the controversies that surrounded it.
Gamechanger, the working title for the show, was to have Daniel Radcliffe play the role of Sam Houser, the co-founder and president of Rockstar games, and Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, an anti-videogame activist who campaigned against the series.
The drama was scheduled to broadcast later this year as part of a BBC season centred on coding-based activities and programmes.
When the BBC announced the project back in March, it said that GTA was “arguably the greatest British coding success story since Bletchley Park.”
Unlike many coding success stories, Grant Theft Auto was not created in Silicon Valley – it was the brainchild of a bunch of British gaming geniuses who had known each other since their school days. In autumn 2013 its latest iteration – GTA:V – earned $1bn in its first three days, becoming the fastest selling entertainment product in history.
The latest version of the series, GTA V, was released on PS3 and Xbox 360 back in September 2013. It was later released for the PS4 and Xbox One while the PC version was released last month.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Doesn’t seem to have the ability to dissolve the hostility against the arts itself though .
Is that how they’re trying to rationalise their relevance these days? Get a real job and pay some tax. Art is a hobby.
Yeah but what about the…… if fairness you speak the truth.
I’ll have to remember that next time I’m being mugged. Throw in a quick mime and all will be grand.
Bono inspired the saving of 60 million lives, what you do today?
I paid my taxes.
you must feel so proud ;)
Well if you’re some sort of artist or art student I can understand why you’d be so blasé about the idea of handing over 52% of the fruits of your labour in tax… because you’ve never done it.
Actually mate, been working since I was 16, just recently fcuked over like the rest of us, doesn’t mean I follow the stereotypical view that all artists do nothing nor do I blame them when it’s MY job I really hate
You should get a job you like.
I have one because I have a science degree.
That’s good for you don’t see why that’s any reason to hate on the artists for the taking 51% of your paycheque
how is they’re to blame?
or is it that you find yourself somewhat superior to what they do with your “science degree” ?
Postmodernism is vacuous and self-refuting.
Unfortunately the knuckle draggers rioting have no interest in art
Sad to see culture fall to make way for mass consumerism
Guess you could say its all going “one direction” ;)
If a tree falls on a mime in the forest does anyone care?
Cacotechny: A corruption or corrupt state of art. We’re all a corruption or corrupt state of art…..
The arts do indeed have that ability. But when everyone has a good laugh at themselves and they leave the experience they go out into the real world..
Arts have the ability to
bring people together in a common appreciation of all that is creative and wonderful.
and a hatred of mimes
Take money from tax payers who have no interested in the art they’re paying for.
Ye can’t deny that humanities are important for society at large, but…. pay some bloody tax!
How is it you know EVERY ONE of them isn’t paying any?
This article made me angry.
have your say