NCSoft raises suit against Webzen for infringement of Lineage M IP

[Source: each company]

South Korea’s game giant NCSoft Corp. has sued smaller publisher Webzen Inc. for violation of the intellectual property (IP) upon finding similarities in the latter’s fantasy game Reign of Revolution Mobile (R2M) with its mobile flagship massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) Lineage M.

NCSoft said on Monday it has identified some features and gameplay system in R2M by Webzen that seemed to have been taken from those of its Lineage M without permission so that it has decided to sue Webzem for plagiarism.

“Intellectual property rights are the result of long-term research and development, which are therefore a company’s core asset that needs protection,” NCSoft explained. “It is important to create and enhance an environment where IP rights are well protected so that the competitiveness of the overall game industry can be improved.”

NCSoft hoped that the lawsuit helps clearly establish the standard of copyright that needs to be protected in the game content sector. It will continue to put out efforts to reach amicable agreement with Webzen separately from the lawsuit.

Webzen’s R2M is a MMORPG released in August last year. It is based on the PC online game R2 released in 2006 by NHN.

NCSoft’s Lineage M, which came out in June 2017, is also the mobile version of another PC game released in 1998.

Shares of NCSoft closed Tuesday 0.98 percent lower at 812,000 won($717.12) on the main Kospi bourse. Kosdaq-listed Webzen shares fell 7.73 percent to finish at 29,250 won.

[ㄏ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]