Half-Life 2: The Legal Morass

While fans the world over await the release of Half-Life 2, developer Valve and publisher VU Games are having an epic battle of their own, in the United States District Court.

It all started with Valve suing VU company Sierra On-Line back in August 2002 for breach of contract. The suit stemmed from charges that Sierra illegally distributed the first Half-Life to Internet cafes around the world. Claims of non-payment of royalties and a further breach of contract charge, this time relating to Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, were later added.

Vivendi Universal brought a countersuit, accusing Valve of willful misrepresentation relating to Valve's online game distribution system, Steam, and the development status of Half-Life 2. VU feels Valve undercut its retail plans by delivering games via Steam, and deceitfully downplayed Valve's plan to use Steam as a major delivery vehicle for the new Half-Life and other games. In 2001, Valve convinced Sierra to relinquish some rights (including some relating to online distribution) to Valve games. After a new agreement was drawn up, Valve introduced Steam and began to directly market its titles.

Did Valve try to undercut Vivendi? Did Vivendi try to rip off Valve? Is the Internet ruining everything for everyone? Will we play as Gordon Freeman again anytime before next spring?

Hey, Half-Life is the thinking-man's FPS! We'll await the answers.

This is terrible.
Especially since already paid to reserve it :mad:

just so you know, vivendi has the option of delaying the game for 6 months following the delivery of the final build. considering their financial situation, i can't see how this would be beneficial, but there you go.