Key GTA developer accused Take-Two and Houser brothers of forcing him from company, withholding royalties. Former Rockstar North studio head Leslie Benzies is taking things
Key GTA developer accused Take-Two and Houser brothers of forcing him from company, withholding royalties. Former Rockstar North studio head Leslie Benzies is taking things to the court stating that Rockstar’s official story of how he left the Grand Theft Auto studio was a lie. Previously, this January, the studio stated that the former head decided not to return to work.
In fact, when attempting to resume his duties upon conclusion of his sabbatical on April 1, 2015, Mr. Benzies found himself unable to enter the Rockstar North office because his facilities access device had been deactivated,” Bakes said. “After being let inside by building security, Mr. Benzies was then ordered to leave by the Rockstar North office manager without reason.
Christopher Bakes, Locke Lord law firm
The lawsuit also states that Houser brother are guilty of not paying $150 million in royalty payments “based upon arbitrary actions by the company’s royalty Allocation Committee, a committee that may or may not have actually ever met.”
Mr. Benzies has spent the bulk of his life in the video game industry, and looks forward to reaching a fair settlement so he can continue creating great entertainment software in a respectful environment that truly values the work of game developers.
Christopher Bakes, Locke Lord law firm
In the meantime, more information became available.
A counter-suit from Take-Two and Rockstar appeared here. Take-Two and Rockstar state that they “have sought unsuccessfully to resolve this issue through mediation and now seek judicial clarification that would resolve this controversy.”
The Royalty Plan provides that since Benzies resigned without Good Reason, he is not entitled to any post-termination royalties. The Royalty Plan further provides that had Benzies been terminated without Cause, or had he voluntarily terminated his own employment for Good Reason, he remained eligible to receive post-termination royalties for three years, but in an amount determined solely by Sam Houser, the President of Rockstar Games
The Counter-suit
Source: gamesindustry.biz