THQ Sues Joint Venture Partner Jakks Pacific Over WWE License Extension

12 Comments Posted July 1, 2009 - By Jake Gaskill

THQ Sues Joint Venture Partner Jakks Pacific Over WWE License Extension Game publisher THQ and its joint-venture partner Jakks Pacific are in the midst of a little legal grappling at the moment that could impact the next year or so of development on future WWE games.

As Reuters reports, THQ filed a lawsuit against Jakks after the company extended its joint videogame licensing agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. without THQ’s consent. Jakks of course says it was well within its legal rights to make this decision without first consulting THQ, while THQ obviously disagrees. Jakks' new agreement would extend the licensing for another five years, and THQ apparently had not yet decided whether it wanted to extend the licensing deal at all.

The real kicker is that Jakks’ secret deal prohibits THQ from releasing a wrestling game for at least a year after the WWE license expires, should the company decide to pull out of its partnership with Jakks. However, THQ says that this restriction is unenforceable under California law, so there's that.

Yet for all the hooting and hollering, there’s a good chance the suit will be resolved without too much fanfare, considering arbitration proceedings are currently underway. Although, both companies apparently make around $20 million a year from the WWE partnership, so there’s a chance that some blood might be drawn, but don’t expect much.

Source

Tags: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360

Comments

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Slash5150

Honestly? I'd love to see WWE games get halted and stopped as well as prevented from being released every year.

WWE SD vs RAW is basically turning into Madden. I quit buying them after SD vs RAW I think 08. At least I think I bought 2008

Posted: July 1, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Report

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IcemanMX

Dr. Gaskill,

You know as well as I do that the only way for this issue to be resolved is a one-on-one, no-hold-barred, cage, hardcore, TLC match between THQ and Jakks with Vince as the special guest referee.

-M

Posted: July 1, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Report

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BloodKnight86

LEMON CURD

Posted: July 1, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Report

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r_pad

@Slash5150 You should buy 2010 for the awesome writing...particularly the HBK and Mickie James storylines.

Posted: July 1, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Report

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joeystar8

would it be because of thq publishing the ufc game by chance?

Posted: July 1, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Report

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TheTrueGh243894

i think instead o relesaing one a year they actually go back and make a game that actually lets me go out of the ring during a ladder match and stop putting in stupid crap like a inferno match, Put the gm mode back in there and maybe ill buy a game

Posted: July 1, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Report

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kobiboy17

and what about the title of 2010 ?

Posted: July 1, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Report

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Tman88

THQ vs. Jakks at Wrestlemania 26

Posted: July 1, 2009 8:20 PM | Reply | Report

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rube1

1. I thought WWE signed a deal with Mattel and Jakks signed with TNA. Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest type of thing?

2. What happened to THQ wanting to focus on Original IPs? I hate to say it, but WWE is to THQ what the NFL is to EA.

3. I hope this deal is a prelude to hopefully WWE will take its IP somewhere else like Activision , EA, or even Take 2.

Posted: July 2, 2009 4:05 AM | Reply | Report

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MJH243

I remember the good ol' days of having matches in places like the boiler room, the locker room, outside of Madison Square Garden... Hell I remember when we could even dangle off a helicopter's collapsible ladder and fight on the facade of a NY city building... now with the TV PG ratings, that downgrades the violence for the video games as well... ATTITUDE ERA FTW!!!

Posted: July 2, 2009 8:53 AM | Reply | Report

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weejifiend

Hmm.. interesting, THQ is contesting not being able to produce a wrestling game for up to a year if their contract expired with WWE. I wonder why...

Posted: July 2, 2009 10:57 AM | Reply | Report

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RatchetAndClankRules

man i hate Mickie James BTW I know all of u would disagree but heres why i hate her: when she came to ri Warwick mall she just sat on her limo drinking lemonade while she came with Cryme Tyme they were signing autographs

Posted: August 10, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Report

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