38 Infinity Ward Devs Sue Activision Over Royalties

A group of Infinity Ward employees have banded together to sue Activision in attempt to receive unpaid royalties and bonuses.

The ‘œInfinity Ward Employee Group’ lawyer Bruce Isaacs has said that Activision owes the employees $54 million in unpaid royalties from 2009 which ‘œActivision has withheld [...] to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3.‘

Activision has already responded to the accusations and has said that they ‘œ[believe] the action is without merit,’ and that ‘œActivision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times.’

The employees are looking for the money which they are allegedly owed, which amounts to $75 to $125 million including compensation as well as another $75 to $500 million worth in punitive damages. They also claim Activision broke Californian law, with employers obligated to pay terminated employees earned money ‘œwithin 72 hours of the termination of their employment’, which according to the group, they did not.

This suit is similar to the one Jason West and Vince Zampella filed against Activision, who after being fired for alleged insubordination claimed they were owed royalty payments. Activision similarly dismissed their claim as ‘œmeritless’.