"Let?s be clear ? it is one thing to be inspired by Zynga games, but it is entirely different to copy all of our key product features, product strategy, branding, mission statement and employee benefits lock, stock and barrel. We welcome Vostu into the arena of social games, but blatant infringement of our creative works is not an acceptable business strategy?it is a violation of the law." -Reggie Davis, General CounselThat's Zynga's statement about a lawsuit they just filed against a well funded Brazilian startup - Vostu - for copyright infringement. Vostu has raised $45.9 million from Intel Capital, General Catalyst, Accel and others. What did Vostu do? According to the lawsuit, they exist almost solely to copy Zynga games. Not just the idea, but nearly every game mechanic, virtual item, and storyline. From the complaint filed today in the Northern District of California federal court: "Vostu has brazenly appropriated the copyright-protected aspects of Zynga?s games(as well as almost every other aspect of Zynga?s business) ? with scant effort to mask their strategy? and then offered games virtually identical to Zynga?s games to prospective players in the United States and elsewhere."
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/XdYsIe95cXU/
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