Activision Blizzard is facing a lawsuit accusing it of monopolizing the market for Call of Duty leagues and tournaments.
Professional gamers Hector “H3cz” Rodriguez and Seth “Scump” Abner, in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in California federal court, allege that the gaming giant violates antitrust laws by preventing “would-be competitors from entering the market” and coercing players and team owners into acquiescing to “extortionate financial terms.” They point to restrictions on their ability to earn compensation from sources besides Activision through endorsements or streaming, as well as mergers intended to cement the company’s alleged monopoly power.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said the plaintiffs “demanded that Activision pay them tens of millions of dollars to avoid this meritless litigation, and when their demands were not met, they filed.”
According to the complaint, the market for Call of Duty leagues and tournaments was competitive until 2019, with multiple entities — including Activision,...
Professional gamers Hector “H3cz” Rodriguez and Seth “Scump” Abner, in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in California federal court, allege that the gaming giant violates antitrust laws by preventing “would-be competitors from entering the market” and coercing players and team owners into acquiescing to “extortionate financial terms.” They point to restrictions on their ability to earn compensation from sources besides Activision through endorsements or streaming, as well as mergers intended to cement the company’s alleged monopoly power.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said the plaintiffs “demanded that Activision pay them tens of millions of dollars to avoid this meritless litigation, and when their demands were not met, they filed.”
According to the complaint, the market for Call of Duty leagues and tournaments was competitive until 2019, with multiple entities — including Activision,...
- 2/16/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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