ZeniMax goes after Samsung with lawsuit

Bethesda parent targets Gear VR and Oculus connection.
Text: Bengt Lemne
Published 2017-05-17

The most successful VR device by far is Samsung's Gear VR as it has sold more than 4.5 million units, but now it seems Samsung will have to fend off a lawsuit from Bethesda-parent ZeniMax as they seek to gain compensation from anyone associated with Oculus.

ZeniMax did secure a partial win in their lawsuit against Oculus last year, winning $500 million as a result of Oculus failing to adhere to a non-disclosure agreement and infringing on a copyright. They did not get a judgement to the effect that Oculus stole trade secrets, but that doesn't stop ZeniMax from going after Samsung.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun cites the lawsuit that alleges:

"Samsung intended to leverage and commercially exploit ZeniMax's trade secrets for the financial benefit of its mobile phone business and in furthering its sales of the Samsung Gear VR. In furtherance of that plan, and without authorization from ZeniMax, Samsung improperly acquired access to ZeniMax's trade secrets through its relationship with Oculus, Luckey and Carmack, and intended to leverage, commercially exploit, and otherwise use the ZeniMax trade secrets without permission, authorization or compensation to ZeniMax."

ZeniMax has made a name for themselves with lawsuits and recently they forced an indie developer to rename their game Praey for the Gods (instead of Prey for the Gods) as they felt it infringed on the Prey trademark. Clearly, there's more money to be had if they win this lawsuit against Samsung, but we doubt the Korean tech giant will go down without a fight.

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