SCEA andGod of Wardesigner David Jaffe are reportedlybeing suedover claims that the PlayStation franchise stole its plot and themes from work that was sent to Sony Pictures.
Jonathan Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer Barrette-Herzog filed the suit in February, claiming that Sony thieved elements of“plot, character relationships, themes, settings, mood, pace and dialog,” from works they had previously sent to the company’s movie division.
The work includes the screenplayOlympiadand a map calledIsland at the Edge of the Living World. They were created forBissoon-Dath’sThe Adventures of Owen: Owen’s Olympic Adventure.The material was sent to Sony in 2002, whileGod of Warcame out in 2005 and took three years to make — INTRIGUE!
Naturally, Sony and Jaffe have denied the allegations, noting that much of the disputed work lies in the public domain. Both the game andBissoon-Dath’s work are based on Greek Mythology, so there is bound to be similar themes regardless of whether or not Sony committed any shenanigans. If you look at the plaintiff’s claims, some of the “links” betweenGod of Warand the “original” work are pretty weak at best. It’s probable that this one can be chalked up to money-grubbing on the part of a desperate writer.
A list of some of the “similarities” betweenGod of WarandOwen’s Olympic Adventure:
