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Hasbro files copyright suit
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February 10, 2000: 1:13 p.m. ET
Toy maker says competition created knock-offs of Pac-Man, Tetris, others
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Hasbro Interactive Inc. is suing several competitors for allegedly ripping off some of its most popular video games, including Asteroids, Pac-Man and Space Invaders, in a lawsuit filed in Boston, one of the defendants said Thursday.
In the suit filed Monday in U.S. District Court, Hasbro Interactive, a subsidiary of one of the top U.S. toy makers, claims competitors stole its intellectual property rights by producing what it says are knock-off versions of Tetris Centipede, Missile Command and others, Hasbro (HAS: Research, Estimates) said.
The defendants named in the suit include eGames, GT Interactive, Xtreme Games, MVP Software, Webfoot Technologies and Varcon Systems.
"Hasbro Interactive has the best brands and content in this business, and we will vigorously protect what is rightfully ours," Tom Dusenberry, Hasbro Interactive's president said in a prepared statement.
One of the defendants, Langhorne, Pa.-based eGames (EGAM: Research, Estimates), which produces such game titles as Tetrimania, 3D Maze Man and Intergalactic Exterminator, called the suit baseless. The company said it would vigorously answer the charges.
"They've characterized us as imposters, rip-off artists, counterfeiters," said Jerry Klein, president and chief operating officer of eGames. "In my opinion, this suit is not about copyright or trademark infringement. That's a subterfuge. What I think Hasbro is trying to do is hurt us financially."
Klein acknowledged the ideas for his company's games came from the originals, but that the game play is different than that of Hasbro's.
Hasbro shares were down 9/16 to 15-3/16 in midday trading Thursday.
Shares of eGames were down 1/32 to 2-7/32. 
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Hasbro Inc.
eGames
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