Microsoft In Legal Battle Over Halo 2 Packaging

Gamespot is running an article about a legal battle regarding Halo 2's metal case. From the article: "The suit reportedly claims that G&M was contacted by Microsoft in 2003 and was looking for a company to produce metal packaging for the release of Halo 2. G&M claims that Microsoft sent its case proposals to Viva, a potential rival for the contract and not part of the NDA. According to reports, the Danish design firm alleges that its proprietary technology was used in a Viva case made for Halo 2 and that Microsoft and Viva are in cahoots. G&M is suing for damages and requesting an injunction against both Microsoft and Viva."

Comments

I wonder...

[Retroneous]

...if the company in the UK that is marketing its range of "innovative packaging designs" by using its design for "The Hero" DVD in its advertising is affected?

Especially since the design is exactly the same as Halo 2's, only with a little pair of black plastic goggles on the side as a clasp to keep the case closed.

I thought that Halo 2's case was just a DVD case made of metal, with the case being cut into two seperate pieces (rather than the "norm", which is one continuous piece) and kept together by an equally cheap metal hinge. And the previous poster is right in saying that Doom 3 was released in exactly the same style of casing.

I know we're all "supposed" to hate Microsoft, but could it not be that a) Small company realises that its main product is ridiculously easy to copy and has nothing else up its sleeve to improve profits, so b) sues the biggest company in the World, hoping to get a big "DualShock" style payoff?