^^ What? You think Bioshock was overrated?

I'm sorry, the excuse "The reviewers aren't playing it right" or "You have to play through until you get the ultimate 'non-awful' endind'" really say "The game is flawed and may only be enjoyable by some people" and "The ending is awful"

I haven't played assassin's creed and I'm not commenting on it in particular ....

Wow, Ubisoft is flaming mad. It's not the only bit of fist shaking they're doing over this game. They're throwing around legal threats at the Jade Raymond comic circlulating, too. Not that they have any grounds to sue over satire, but wow.

"...

We are counsel to Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. (“Ubisoft”), publisher of the popular video game ASSASSIN’S CREED and employer of Ms. Jade Raymond (“Ms. Raymond”). Ubisoft is also the owner of the following U.S. trademark applications for the ASSASSIN’S CREED mark (the “Mark”): Serial No. 78850944; Serial No. 78866696; and Serial No. 78850968. In consequence of Ubisoft’s extensive efforts and expenditures, substantial goodwill has been built up for Ubisoft and the products and services sold under the Mark, and the ASSASSIN’S CREED game is one of the most widely anticipated games of the year.

.....

"Furthermore, the Image’s blatant, vile, and unauthorized misappropriation of Ms. Raymond’s name and likeness, and your conduct in using the Image on your Site, have caused immeasurable harm to Ms. Raymond’s reputation and career, and constitute an egregious infringement of Ms. Raymond’s personal rights and privacy rights. The Image and your conduct also constitute an egregious unauthorized commercial exploitation of Ms. Raymond’s rights of publicity in violation of, without limitation, her common law rights of publicity and California Civil Code §3344, which provides in relevant part:

“Any person who knowingly uses another’s name, .., photograph, or likeness, in any manner, on or in products, merchandise, or goods, or for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, merchandise, goods or services, without such person’s prior consent…shall be liable for any damages sustained by the person or persons injured as a result thereof.”

It is well established that a person who commercially exploits the name or likeness of someone without their consent is liable for all of the damages caused thereby. Additionally, the Image and your conduct in using the Image on the Site constitute unfair business practices and false advertising in violation of the California Business and Professions Code; intentional infliction of emotional distress; a violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §1125(a); and harassment, which is a criminal offense.

Please also note that any failure to comply with applicable privacy laws may result in direct action against you by the Federal Trade Commission, in addition to other litigation.

..."

Happy holidays Ubisoft :S

I bought Assassin's Creed, hate to think my money is going towards things like frivolous litigation :-/

“Any person who knowingly uses another’s name, .., photograph, or likeness, in any manner, on or in products, merchandise, or goods, or for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, merchandise, goods or services, without such person’s prior consent…shall be liable for any damages sustained by the person or persons injured as a result thereof.”

I wonder what would Ubisoft`s reaction if there was Jade Raymond jokes in a South Park episode.

I really hate it when game companies do this. It reminds me of that whole Sega-Gamespot fiasco many years back over Shenmue.

I'm totally not buying Assassin's Creed now. (Not that I was going to anyway... =P )

You have to love the laws of the wonderful state of California. There is a reason so many companies hold up shop in California. The laws are anti constitutional, and violate international sovereignty. They are everything a corporation wants. They can pretend that the law is on their side.

I was looking forward to Assassins Creed, but now I am not sure I want the game if the company fronting it is against civil liberties. I find the fact that they are threatening lawsuits for satire troubles me to no end.

Capslock could you provide us with a link. I would like to see this comic, and the attached article about the email. I assume that is what it is.

 PWNED!  LOL

 yes plz.  I would like to see links too!

It's from the ycs (your console sucks) forums on Something Awful, home of Zero Punctuation.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2686438

If this ends up being a pain and Ubisoft threatens this site too, just delete this post. Needless to say, they're not taking it seriously. Leonard Crabs will soon be on the case.

"From: Rich "Lowtax" Kyanka [mailto:webmaster@somethingawful.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:06 PM
To: 'Anderson, David'
Cc: A BUNCH OF FRENCHIES
Subject: RE: NOTICE: Infringement of ASSASSIN'S CREED Mark and Jade Raymond's Personal, Privacy, and Publicity Rights

Please let it be known that hereforth I have read the express mail and email sent thereforth by Famous Lawyer David Anderson of the Famous Lawyer Law Business of Nixon Peabody LLP, and furthermore a declaration shall be expressed on the part of Internet User Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka that thatforth herethrough I have conducted rigorous tests implemented through a vigorous barrage of legal studies, and furthermore hitherthrough these rigorous tests have therefore proven Famous Lawyer David Anderson of the Famous Lawyer Law Business of Nixon Peabody LLP shall be recognized as a man of the fag persuasion.

Pursuant to the United Dairy Council

Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka
Internet"

Frivilous lawsuits are nothing new to Something Awful

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/legal-threats/index.php

EDIT: You'll have to hunt around a bit for the comic in that thread. You'll stumble across it in a page or 2 or 3. 

I will just provide a tasteful link.

http://xs221.xs.to/xs221/07465/jaderaymond.jpg