In 2012, Colorado resident Landis Edwards sued the folks behind The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion over a bug that erased one of his game files. The bug, Edwards said, violated the marketing copy on the back of Oblivion‘s box, which promised “open-ended” gameplay with “unlimited possibilities”.
Edwards filed the suit as a class-action with a firm called Edelson, and they battled with Zenimax, the parent company of Oblivion developer Bethesda, for a year and a half or so. A few weeks ago, according to court documents, the case was dismissed with prejudice following a joint stipulation. Settlement terms weren’t disclosed.
Edelson, it’s worth noting, was once called “the most feared and loathed firm in Silicon Valley” in a Business Insider mini-profile. They like their class-action lawsuits, and Business Insider describes their strategy as: 1) File suit over something “nitpicky”, and 2) “Accept a modest settlement from the accused company, which is willing to pay just to make the whole thing go away. Pay out tiny amounts to the plaintiffs who joined the class action. Take huge fees.”
Ruh-roh. What a strange and convoluted legal system the United States bears.
Comments
8 responses to “Lawsuit Against Bethesda Over Oblivion Bugs Went Nowhere”
Heh, reminds me of Scientology. They sue you, which costs them nothing but costs you to defend yourself. Lose. Then sue you again and wittle down your money until you can’t defend yourself anymore.
Anyone else hearing Lionel Hutz saying the words “Never Ending Story”…?
Imagine if everyone sued every time they encountered a bug in a Bethesda game. It’d probably make them beta test them a lot more thoroughly tbh. I’m all for suing over bugs
Obsidian wouldn’t exist
Meh, the backwards flying crazy dragon thing was pretty fun actually.
Hmmmm unless I am missing something shouldn’t Zenimax say that the bug that wiped out his game was only one of the “unlimited possibilities” that happens when playing Oblivion
Better Call Saul!
Interesting that it was even allowed. No ToS clause saying “tough bikkies if all fails”?
They really don’t have any safeguard against vexatious litigation?