Evony Online is a free browser-based real time strategy game that enjoys using inappropriate sexual implications to advertise itself. The game creators, Evony LLC, have been embroiled in a rather bitter fight over so-called "attacks" launched by blogger Bruce Everiss. Today, Evony LLC has announced that it has filed an official suit against the writer of Bruce on Games.
"For several weeks we have worked to avoid taking our grievances into the legal courts," states an Evony representative, "hoping instead to persuade Mr. Everiss to come clean and stop his online campaign of mistruths and outright falsities. His attacks have caused significant damage to our brand and the gaming experience for Evony’s millions of users and fans around the world."
For the past few weeks, Bruce Everiss has been attempting to uncover and expose alleged shady shenanigans that go on behind Evony's closed doors. He has stated that Evony hides who is really in control of the company, obscuring the facts with "a web of companies and proxies." He has also accused Evony of infringing upon intellectual property, most notably 2K's Civilization series, and associating with Chinese MMO gold farmers.
Rather than ignore a relatively humble UK blog, Evony has instead pursued a lawsuit. Quite why it felt the need to do this is beyond me, but it's making for quite a funny and bizarre little story. We expect this one to get quite vicious (and thus hilarious) before it's all said and done.
As you may have heard, Evony, LLC has been under attack by blogger Bruce Everiss. For several weeks we have worked to avoid taking our grievances into the legal courts, hoping instead to persuade Mr. Everiss to come clean and stop his online campaign of mistruths and outright falsities. His attacks have caused significant damage to our brand and the gaming experience for Evony’s millions of users and fans around the world.
Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach a solution with Mr. Everiss and on September 4, 2009, we filed suit against blogger Bruce Everiss for posting defamatory and false statements online about Evony, LLC and our game.
You can read our press release explaining the details of this suit on our corporate Web site at: www.evony.net.
It is our intent to be open and transparent in this matter and as an industry opinion leader, we want to reach out to you personally about this filing and gauge your interest in participating in a blogger call this week. If you are interested, please respond to this e-mail and we will ensure you receive an invitation.
Finally, for the most up-to-date news, announcements and tips be sure to follow Evony on Twitter and join our fan community on Facebook.
Contest:
4:20 PM on 09.15.2009
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Sue me.
Fixed.
So they're suing for libel? Do they have any idea how easy it is to defend against libel? So long as this blogger supports his accusations with a few half-truths here and there, he should get off without a hitch.
Evony is blatantly plagiarizing Age of Empires II, yet it's attempting to sue. Unbelievable.
...also breasts. Exquisite breasts.
http://imgur.com/eZaJ9.jpg
http://imgur.com/gtQeZ.jpg
The first thing I thought when I tried the game (being bored at work does horrible things to a man) was "wow, this game looks like a rip off of every old RTS game I played."
Hey, it was!
Microsoft should sue their candy butts for stealing their images. That company is trash, uses trash to sell their crappy product, and should be off the INTRAWEBS.
Me'thinks that while they may be unappealing, they are breasts. Much like pizza, even bad pizza is still PIZZA!
post op tranny maybe?
@Tralfmadoria @Freefall
The suit is being filed in Australia, which apparently has much more plaintiff-friendly defamation law than the US (or so says Everiss). Anywho, this is not exactly fresh news, since the lawyers already sent him letters back in August. Though I was hoping to hear that they were going to officially sue The Guardian as well: I would've quite enjoyed the epic thumping by these guys against one of Britain's biggest newspapers.
Everything sort of points to Evony using a couple of assets from other RTS games, like Age of Empires (which were summarily removed), so in this, Evony is probably trying to use the "we have more money than you, a suit will cost too much for you" attack.
Whether or not Bruce will bow to their demands remains to be seen, but any defense Bruce launches in court will have to try to argue against the power of blogs on the Internet - something that runs counter to why he writes.
I absolutely HAVE to roll with you, and again, call more attention to the fact that Evony blatantly stole copyrighted material from Age of Empires.
They really need a good kick in the teeth.
The boobs are a lie!
The boobs are a lie!
I have no idea what Evony looks like.
I have only seen ads with unrelated art bought from artists on GFXartist.com.
The photomanip in this post's header is the most common ad I see.
IDK, but I'm putting popcorn in the microwave and hoping Bruce wins.
Anyway.. they'll likely make Bruce famous! :)
rehab
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