The legal saga surrounding the creators of Call of Duty and the franchise’s publisher is finally at an end. Activision has reached a settlement with Jason West and Vince Zampella over a lawsuit filed by the duo back in 2010, according to statements from both sides and Electronic Arts, publisher for West and Zampella’s current studio, Respawn Entertainment.
Details on the settlement are unknown, and likely will never see the light of day as they have been declared “strictly confidential.” The Los Angeles Times did report however that West was “in court and smiling,” indicating that the deal went the way of the two developers.
“All parties to the litigation have reached a settlement of the dispute, the terms of which are strictly confidential,” read a statement issued by Respawn Entertainment.
This feud began back in 2010, when West and Zampella were fired by Activision allegedly before they could fully collect on the promised royalties for Modern Warfare 2. Activision counter-sued, claiming that the dismissals were a preemptive strike to keep the two from suddenly jumping ship to EA, which the duo were supposedly in talks with.
At the same time, 38 current and former Infinity Ward employees known as the Infinity Ward Employee Group sued Activision for withholding royalties. The publisher eventually settled by giving the group $42 million, but then later added EA to its counter-suit against West and Zampella. That dispute was settled last month to yet undisclosed terms.
Aside from assuring investors it would not affect business, Activision was mum on the settlement with West and Zampella:
Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI) today announced that all parties to the litigation have reached a settlement of the dispute, the terms of which are strictly confidential.
The company does not believe that the incremental one-time charges related to the settlement will result in a material impact on its GAAP or non-GAAP earnings per share outlook for the current quarter or the calendar year, due to stronger-than-expected operating performance in the current quarter.
Being in the thick of the dispute for so long, EA also jumped in on the settlement news with a statement of its own.
“Activision’s refusal to pay their talent and attempt to blame EA were absurd,” claimed the publisher. “This settlement is a vindication of Vince and Jason, and the right of creative artists to collect the rewards due for their hard work.”
