Take-Two settles with Thompson

Grand Theft Auto publisher and Florida lawyer drop claims against one another; Thompson agrees not to file or threaten further lawsuits.

Two bitter rivals have come to terms, as Florida attorney Jack Thompson and Take-Two Interactive have settled their latest dispute, with stipulations that will limit the violent entertainment activist's ability to sue the Grand Theft Auto publisher.

Last month Take-Two filed suit against Thompson to prevent him from filing suit to halt the release of its upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2 games. Thompson had filed suit to prevent the release of Take-Two's Bully in the state of Florida last year under the state's public nuisance laws. While Take-Two ultimately prevailed in that case, it was forced to submit the T-for-Teen-rated game for a judge to review the appropriateness of its content.

Thompson responded to last month's suit by saying, "I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid," and that the company's "misstep" would now "enable me to destroy Take-Two." Shortly thereafter, Thompson filed a countersuit accusing the publisher of tampering with a witness in an Alabama criminal trial, extortion, and obstruction of justice. Thompson later amended his countersuit to omit all mention of the alleged crimes.

The legal dispute is now over, as Take-Two and Thompson yesterday entered into a settlement agreement that will see them both drop their suits, as reported by Game Politics. However, there are a few strings attached.

Specifically, Thompson will not be able to sue Take-Two in any court seeking to restrict the sale or distribution of any of the publisher's games. He also won't be able to directly threaten Take-Two with a lawsuit arising from the sale or distribution of its games. Furthermore, Thompson has agreed that any further communications with Take-Two or its business partners will be directed to legal counsel (if it's in regards to existing litigation) or to a designated Take-Two contact person.

However, Thompson will still be able to criticize the company for the content or distribution of its games, and he'll still be allowed to represent others in lawsuits where they allege they were individually wronged by the company.

As for what Thompson gets out of the settlement, Take-Two not only drops its lawsuit against him, but also agrees to withdraw a petition in last year's suit over Bully. After Bully was approved for sale, Thompson circulated an open letter criticizing the judge's handling of the case. Take-Two responded with a petition for order to show cause against Thompson. If granted, the petition would have compelled Thompson to appear in court to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court for his comments.

When contacted by GameSpot for comment, Thompson said the settlement was "a huge victory," adding, "They dropped the contempt matter in state court. I got everything I wanted."

[UPDATE] Recently appointed Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick told GameSpot, "Take-Two agreed to this settlement as part of our ongoing resolution of outstanding legal issues. We're pleased that Mr. Thompson has agreed neither to threaten nor to bring personally lawsuits against Take-Two or our partners related to the sale or distribution of our products. As part of this settlement, Take-Two and Mr. Thompson resolved all pending litigation in the Florida state and federal courts. We will continue to defend aggressively our legal positions as well as pursue prompt resolution in the interest of our company and shareholders."

218 Comments

  • Percypoo

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 2:45 am PT

    I don't like that Thompson guy. He was a threat to the game industry and I'm glad that Take-Two have him out of their hair. It's just that trying to ban GTA 4 is a crime against humanity. Rockstar invested 4 years of time money and effort into that game and if he caused it to be canceled he would infuriate millions of gamers and destroy the dreams that Rockstar had put in so much hard work to create. oh yeah and, DIE Thompson DIE DIE DIE DIE DIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE WE ALL HATES YOUR GUTS!!!

  • argos163

    Posted Aug 20, 2007 1:28 am PT

    People like jack T are one of the reasons why I play/played video games. Politics are stupid, unless theyre apart of a video game. =)

    Call me judgemental, but I think that if jack thompson keeps shouting off like this, some crazed fans of various game development companies might shut his mouth in retaliation. Hey, bill gates got a pie to the face, so why not?

  • McGregor

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    I actually find that i want to hurt people less when i play violent games. it's a great place to release some stress for that driver that you want to bang into a wall repeatedly. instead, i get my fix on GTA, and manhunt. thanks take-two! you help me release my aggression through your violent video games! I think it would be safe to say you're like the psychiatrist i never had.

  • Shmoe82

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 4:21 am PT

    Thompson is a tool. If video games cause so much violence as he says, it shouldn't be safe for us to leave our house because everyone of the millions of people who play fighting games would kill eachother. Maybe he is so bat**** crazy that he should be banned from videogames, movies, sharp objects, and projectiles.

  • DChy

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 6:09 pm PT

    The Columbine and Virginia Tech school shootings were not caused by video games, Thompson. Get that into your stupid head. He claims that his legal battles with Take-Two are over, but we'll see just how long he can keep to his word.

  • sZZZlepy_101

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 4:56 am PT

    for the last time Bully is not a colubine simulator!!!!!!!!!!!!! you dont even get guns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • gah468

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    just cuz hes a damn **** who apparently just happens to know what behind the blur in sims 2(only a blank spot like with barbie) doesnt mean hes has to make our lives all sad and f****** boring,i wonder if he has a damn wife

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Jun 17, 2007 4:39 am PT

    A huge victory? Didn't he read that he can't sue or threaten to sue the company ever again? And Gamespot involved in a conspiracy? How does a website like this have any sway with a huge game publisher?

  • DXfan1448

    Posted May 15, 2007 6:02 am PT

    He Is A Piece of Dip S**T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and His mind is only ban all T-AO games and sue and sue a million times to take- two and let all people play all kid's games and He MUST DIE and I wish never to speak again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 10:37 am PT

    Hopefully he will disappear now.

  • stinger503

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 11:58 pm PT

    I actually don't play Counter-Strike. But can anyone tell me if every time the game starts, your arguing with your girlfriend (and shoot her), and then go to another building and kill 30 un-armed people?

  • Vash67

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    *waits for someone else to sue Rockstar and for Jack Thompson to return, representing them*

  • hart704

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 11:16 pm PT

    Mr. Thompson can now take his "victory" and shove it.

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 6:39 pm PT

    About bloody time! All that bastard does is whine, whine, whine for attention cause he'll never understand it's just fiction and there can be many worse things than this....

    Seems they kicked his ass cause he needed to be knocked into some F***ing sense.

  • shaggyaz

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:13 pm PT

    H** YEAH!! That piece of **** just went down the toilet

  • a_grunge_fan

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 12:02 pm PT

    Seeya Jack, hope the door doesnt kick you in the ass on the way out!

  • jakob_187

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 11:08 am PT

    Actually, Microsoft is the right company, as they published the game. Valve only developed it. Regardless, when it comes down to it...Cho wasn't pressured into killing himself after 32 people...which happens to be the same number of people that are supported on a server in Counter-Strike. Video games don't emulate life? Guys...I'm sorry, but after thinking long and hard about it last night...I think we have to face the facts that Counter-Strike DID influence this guy.

  • Runningflame570

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 11:06 am PT

    WOOHOO!!!! Way to go Take-Two, the guy can't do jack**** now to them without getting a suite leveled against him for which he will have no recourse.

  • ReggieNametaker

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 5:34 am PT

    Good riddance to the right wing waste of space that is Jack Thompson.

    Like zeus_gb said he better do some research before making wild accusations.

  • Robot_Vampire

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 5:34 am PT

    Jack Thompson, will you ever learn? Just leave it be for a minute will you? I can see that him and alot of other people with have issues for GTA IV but most people don't (I think), the main point is that if you don't like it DON'T BUY IT, it's the best answer.

  • zeus_gb

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 4:15 am PT

    Jack Thompson is an idiot and it's about time he got on to the internet and did some research instead of coming up with wild accusations.

  • Romanticide

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 4:07 am PT

    He got everything he wanted?

    He wanted bad press and to look crazy?

  • ManUPrincess

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:06 am PT

    after reading that letter i won't be surprised if microsoft sue thompson for liability and slander. he's like the people of wikipedia who write an article on opis die because they read the da vinci code and think they know it all. i've been playing gta since i was 14/15 and i'm now 21 and i havn't gone out killing people or bully people and pull wedgies like in bully. wanker wanker wanker! should have your licence revoked for being a risk to society

  • Alucard7321

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 5:22 pm PT

    Funny how he doesn't know about Postal then.

    Though, everyone knows the best murder simulation was Golden Axe. I still run about in my leotard slicing dwarves on lizardback.

  • Jac5232

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 3:24 pm PT

    "monkey_man322: Ya.. Thompson just sent this letter to microsoft, specifically bill gates, saying that Microsoft is legally liable for the lives lost at VA tech... http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/13296/Jack-Thompson-Blames-Bill-Gates-for-VT-Shooting/"

    Wrong company. MS is not responsible for Counter-Strike, and it's not a murder simulation. Then again, to JT Super Mario could be somewhat considered a murder simulation.

  • jakob_187

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 3:07 pm PT

    You know...this doesn't bug me nearly as much as Thompson blaming Microsoft for the VT shootings because Cho played Counter-Strike. I mean, seriously...it's a video game. I swear, this guy will go after whoever he can.

    Hey, Jack...did you know that you can roll over people with a giant ball in Katamari Damacy? Might wanna start working on Namco's case next, douche bag!

  • Alucard7321

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 1:43 pm PT

    Jack Thompson: "I--WILL--DESTOY YOU!!! NAAAAARRRRRRGGHHHHH!!!!"

  • monkey_man322

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 1:38 pm PT

    Ya.. Thompson just sent this letter to microsoft, specifically bill gates, saying that Microsoft is legally liable for the lives lost at VA tech... http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/13296/Jack-Thompson-Blames-Bill-Gates-for-VT-Shooting/

  • MxAxSxH

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    iliyun "Jack Thompson hasn't had Sex since Sex had him."

    QFT

  • jakman2004

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 12:33 pm PT

    i bet thompson is mad all the time that millions of gamers think he is a ballbag and that he's never actually got what he wanted primarily. What a joker, we're all happy. nannanananaa

  • iliyun

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 12:27 pm PT

    Jack Thompson hasn't had Sex since Sex had him.

  • NuttyBanana

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    "I got everything I wanted."

    Yeh of course you did man! oh and Bully was a cool game, cheers. Now, off to school to beat up some kids!

  • go_commando_92

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:47 am PT

    Jack Thompson is a pompous, attention seeking, money grubbing virgin.
    I don't like him very much

  • Bgrngod

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:41 am PT

    "I got everything I wanted"

    That means he didn't get held in Contempt of Court and get his butt thrown in jail or fined for it. Sounds like he gave up on his "cause" to save his own hide..... what a wimp.

    I am actually glad he is an idiot. If anyone intelligtent or organized tried doing what he does then they might actually get somewhere.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:19 am PT

    Exactly, Takashi_Dragon.

    He's only positioning his failure in "destroying" Take-Two as a victory so he regain the face he needs to continue his ill-conceived crusade.

    If only news outlets would simply ignore the man, this would end. False prophets are nothing without a soapbox. . .

  • Takashi_Dragon

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:10 am PT

    Give it time.
    Jack has already written a scathing letting To Microsoft, informing them in no uncertain terms that the blood of the V-Tech student's is on their hands, because the killer played Couterstrike (according to Thompson anyway) and was influenced by the "murder simulator".

    This is a man who seriously needs a hobby. It's quite worrying that someone can be so utterly delusional and be in such a high possition of office.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:58 am PT

    Sounds like Jack Thompson finally got that sack o' money that he's wanted all this time. I don't know why it took Take Two so long to realize it. They could have written a check and had this over and done with years ago.

  • iliyun

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:54 am PT

    Jack Thompson is an idiot. He needs to get Laid

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:53 am PT

    Well, we'll still be seeing Grand Theft Auto IV arrive now - no worries.

  • TheUnionFrag

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:37 am PT

    Give it a month and Wacko Jacko will be preaching on a Miami street corner about the evils of another publisher again . . . he might well target Ubisoft because they're "too French", or EA because they "make too much money".

    Thing is - all his arguments are flawed. His logic fails at every turn. As such, he can never be taken seriously.

  • Helios1856

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:05 am PT

    jacks never done.

  • Ninjachef04

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:58 am PT

    I have a funny feeling that he isn't done yet...

  • holhardy

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:41 am PT

    Well for the time being , im happy Thompson will be kept quiet. for now

  • lucky326

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:07 am PT

    At least he is stopped against Take Two now. Of course he will probably go after another company.

  • MrGrime

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:50 am PT

    They must've blackmailed him.

  • e10mgs

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:41 am PT

    Jack Thompson is so un-proffesional

  • brain_slug

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:31 am PT

    "i got everything i wanted" lol... im pretty sure he didnt destory take two..

  • sancezz

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:31 am PT

    lol, a victory for Thompson? I bet he cries himself to sleep because God didn't let him win.

  • FinalChosen

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:30 am PT

    I think we just all just need to stop being so childish over something so important. If we all gave just one pound or dollar each then we could create a better world... By hiring someone to 'whack' Thompson. Or at least throw something messy all over his shirt.

  • Drt888

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:30 am PT

    I have a horrible feeling soon jack thompson will say he had his fingers crossed or something.

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