Activision has responded to allegations that it interfered with the release of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ by saying that there’s no evidence against Activision.
And the legal soap opera over Genius Products’ Scratch: The Ultimate DJ continues. Today Activision released a statement denying any responsibility for Genius Products and Numark’s recent problems getting their DJ game on the right track for release later this year.
“Yesterday, the L.A. Superior Court found that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by Activision and refused to grant any restraining order against Activision,” the company wrote.
Genius and Numark alleged that Activision had acquired 7 Studios, the company originally developing Scratch, in order to stall or interfere with the release of Scratch after Genius refused to sell the game to Activision. 7 Studios, Genius claimed, was demanding unreasonable development fees after being bought by Activision, and when Genius decided to take the IP and make the game itself, refused to turn over in-progress builds and controller prototypes.
Activision, however, think Genius is just coming up with excuses. “These allegations are nothing more than an attempt by Genius to place blame for the game’s delay, as well as to divert attention from the cash flow, liquidity and revenue challenges Genius detailed in its March 30, 2009, SEC filing,” they said.
They also said that their acquisition of 7 Studios has had no negative effect on the development of Scratch, and that they actually helped the studio by providing some much-needed financial support.
