Thompson Stifled by Take Two Suit

Take Two has done something that many gamers have probably dreamed of: they've managed to make Jack Thompson shut up. In return for dismissing their suit against Thompson (and the dismissal of Thompson's counter-suit), Thompson has agreed to limit communication with Take-Two Entertainment. He's also barred for the time being from filing suit against games made by the company, ensuring we'll see a minimum of court drama around the release of GTA IV later this year. Ars Technica's Opposable Thumbs blog reports: "It appears that his once mighty roar is now to be temporarily quieted, as the well-documented case--which included numerous bold claims, outrageous scandals, and even a counter-suit--between Thompson and publisher Take-Two has reached a settlement ... Any statements or concerns that Thompson wishes to voice will now have to first go through Take-Two's lawyers."

Comments

I wonder if this is the best decision for Take Two

[adam613]

Some of the best publicity Take Two has gotten for its games has come from Jack Thompson. I only noticed Bully when JT sued to stop it from being released; I ended up buying a copy and finding that it was a pretty good game. They should let JT continue to rant and give their legal department some of Marketing's budget.

Awww...

[andrewd18]

I was really hoping for anything but definition #2.

stifle1 /stafl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[stahy-fuhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -fled, -fling.
-verb (used with object)
1. to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.
2. to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn.
3. to kill by impeding respiration; smother.
-verb (used without object)
4. to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.
5. to become stifled or suffocated.

Jack Thompson is likely an Industry insider anyway

[trdrstv]

You know, Jack Thompson is probably the best thing for the Video Game industry right now; and I'm not convinced he's not on Take Two's payroll already. Can you imagine what a competant lawyer could do? They could take the rampant paranoia of lawmakers who are uneducated (about video games) and get video games regulated in a manner that wouldn't be turned over by the courts.

Jack is actually our best friend because he's such a wack job that these things get overturned and set a precident for future legislation.

Thank you Jack. Don't ever change...

---S.

Does anyone know..

[robably]

where Thompson's money comes from? Wikipedia says he's an attorney but it's hard to see how he has spare time to do any actual "attorneying" for anyone. Does he make a living purely from interviews, or is there a sinister backer we should know about?

Re:Does anyone know..

[bigbigbison]

Jack wife is also a lawyer and she works for what is aparently a pretty well known firm in Miami. In is book Jack wrote that when his son was born he gave up actively practicing law to take care of his son because he was making less money. Now that his son is getting older Jack has more time to pursue his enemies. He is basically a house husband with a lot of free time on his hands.

New MSNBC article highly critical of Jack

[ulysses38]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18220228/

from TFA: "The shooting on the Virginia Tech campus was only hours old, police hadn't even identified the gunman, and yet already the perpetrator had been fingered and was in the midst of being skewered in the media.

Video games. They were to blame for the dozens dead and wounded. They were behind the bloodiest massacre in U.S. history.

Or so Jack Thompson told Fox News and, in the days that followed, would continue to tell anyone who'd listen.