(Reuters) — The publisher of the controversial "Grand Theft Auto 4" video game sued the Chicago Transit Authority on Monday, accusing it of pulling ads promoting the blockbuster without explanation.
The video game's publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. sued the transit authority in Manhattan federal court for violating its free speech and contractual rights, saying it pulled its posters within days of the ads first appearing on April 22.
Take Two accused the authority and its sales agent, Titan Outdoor LLC, of violating a $300,000 ad campaign agreement that included running "Grand Theft Auto 4" poster ads on the sides of buses and transit display spaces throughout the Chicago transit system scheduled for six weeks between April and June.
The suit seeks an order for the transit authority to run the ads as well as monetary damages of at least $300,000.
The advertisements were removed following a report by a Fox News affiliate that questioned why the ad was allowed to run after a wave of violent crimes in Chicago, the suit said.
Past "Grand Theft Auto" games have been criticized for depicting violence including beatings, carjackings, drive-by shootings, drunk driving and prostitution.
Representatives of the Chicago Transit Authority were not immediately available for comment.
Eh... Don't know if this is the wisest move... It's not like they need the extra advertising. I guess it's to prove a point, but still it's hard to see how Rockstar isn't going to come out of this looking like assholes to the average person.
The CTA -did- give an explanation, though. The CTA knows damned well that they need all the revenue they can get to hurry up and fix the trains. I'm tired of this three-rail bullshit at Belmont and Fullerton.
I never take the CTA around here. I don't really understand the whole public bus system which is slightly pathetic. I'm glad they're trying to fight back for violating what seems to be a simple agreement between Take-Two and the CTA.
The end of the article pretty much sums it up. Local fox news ran the story after or during the weekend where 38 people were shot and 8 of them died. It most likely caused an uproar where 20 people called the CTA, and of course that translates to 200,000 people so they pulled them. It'd be sad if they lost this case, would have to put them back up, and pay back the cash they got since they sorely need it.
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Eh... Don't know if this is the wisest move... It's not like they need the extra advertising. I guess it's to prove a point, but still it's hard to see how Rockstar isn't going to come out of this looking like assholes to the average person.
The CTA -did- give an explanation, though. The CTA knows damned well that they need all the revenue they can get to hurry up and fix the trains. I'm tired of this three-rail bullshit at Belmont and Fullerton.
should've just advertised on Maryland Metro trains. such a thing prolly wouldn't have been a big issue.
I never take the CTA around here. I don't really understand the whole public bus system which is slightly pathetic. I'm glad they're trying to fight back for violating what seems to be a simple agreement between Take-Two and the CTA.
The end of the article pretty much sums it up. Local fox news ran the story after or during the weekend where 38 people were shot and 8 of them died. It most likely caused an uproar where 20 people called the CTA, and of course that translates to 200,000 people so they pulled them. It'd be sad if they lost this case, would have to put them back up, and pay back the cash they got since they sorely need it.
Take-Two is firing the Chicago Transit Authority?
Oh man.
I meant suing.
I totally ruined the joke.
Going to hang myself, now.