The original story continues below.
As the world of gaming continues to progress it’s no surprise that virtual reality is the next big thing. Companies like Sony, HTC, and Oculus have been showing off and discussing their respective VR headsets for years, and gamers have been clamoring for a chance to get one.
So it comes as no surprise that as the major VR systems release to the public on a wide scale, there’s a messy legal battle brewing around the Oculus Rift VR headset. According to ZeniMax Media, a developer and publisher in the video game world, the Oculus Rift was created using research and technology stolen from ZeniMax.
ZeniMax filed their original suit in May 2014, but expanded on the complaint in an amendment filed on August 16. Said amendment directly accuses id Software co-founder and Oculus chief technology officer John Carmack of stealing resources that aided in the creation of the Oculus Rift.
The complaint continues, detailing how Carmack stole the information and tools needed to complete work on the Oculus Rift.
With the consumer version of the Oculus Rift set to release on September 20th, it’s unlikely the current lawsuit will do much to slow or halt production or sales. In fact, with Facebook now the proud owner of Oculus, it’s possible the lawsuit will be tied up in court for years while the opposing lawyers duke it out.
However, if the claims are true and the verdict lands on the side of ZeniMax, the developer may have a hefty payday in the future. As console makers prepare to release upgraded hardware, and as developers prepare to release various VR games, the VR market could easily be a multi-billion dollar industry in the next few years.
What do you think of the claims ZeniMax is making against Carmack and Oculus?
Source: Scribd
