Skip to main content
News

Author sues Ubisoft

Concepts in Assassin's Creed stolen?
Bengt Lemne 19 April 2012

Author John Beiswenger is upset. He claims that his novel Link (2002), contains a description of a device called Animus, that allows you access to your dead ancestor's memories. Something that may ring a bell if you've played any of the Assassin's Creed games (first one came out in 2007).

The novel also features assassins and biblical themes and a struggle between good and evil (the latter is kind of hard to fault Ubisoft for including in a game), all of which Beiswenger claims were lifted out of Link. He seeks punitive damages of €5.25 million, which in fairness doesn't sound like much given the massive sales of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

It remains to be seen if a court finds any merit to his 11 claims of infringement.

Full profile 12,802 published articles
Why trust Gamereactor
23 Editions Each with its own newsroom and its own scores.
1998 Publishing since Independently owned for the whole of it.
100% Hands-on Written from time with the game, never press material.
1–10 Network Score Every edition’s score, averaged and shown.