It's not quite Fox vs. Warners, but it's kind of amusing nevertheless to see a couple of entertainment industry warriors fight it out over the rights to the Jack Black video game Brutal Legend. But this one's apparently worth it: A nation of stoners awaits Black's digital rendition as a heavy-metal roadie in a mythical land, if only Activision and their former partners can work out a deal by fall. The amateur lawyer in me thinks it's likely, but the trash-talking is already getting thick.
Or at least it is on one side of the battle. Activision is doing its talking in court filings, claiming that Double Fine Productions fell nine months behind schedule and $7 million over budget before passing the project on to the gaming giant's competitors at EA. That company plans an October release for the game, but Activision -- which says it still owns the rights -- wants an injunction against any release whatsoever.
Good luck with that, Double Fine's president told the Associated Press: "Hey, if Activision liked it, then they should have put a ring on it. Oh great, now Beyonce is going to sue me too." Zing! I have no horse in this race, don't own a gaming console, and will more than fill my annual Jack Black quota with Year One, but still. You've got to love the sass. Team Double Fine.