Backstory: Richard Garriot partnered with NCsoft to create Tabula Rasa, a sci-fi shooter MMO that rather famously launched in late 2007 and shut down in early 2009 following a poor reception. Before Tabula Rasa shut down, however, NCsoft published a letter of resignation purportedly from Richard Garriot that he was leaving the company to pursue other careers. Garriot shot back, suing NCsoft with the claim that he was fired from the company, and then marked as voluntarily resigning in order to defraud him out of stock options that were available but expired upon his “resignation.”
Last year I reported that Richard Garriot had won $28 million in his lawsuit against NCsoft, although the final amount was $32 million, after lawyer fees and other costs added on. I also pointed out that NCsoft would undoubtedly appeal, and appeal they did. The 5th Circuit Court, however, saw Garriot’s side of the story (yet again) and shot NCsoft down, affirming the judgement.
“It would be unjust to allow NCsoft to sit back during trial, observe Garriott’s litigation strategy, and then demand a new trial on damages when it dislikes the verdict.”
NCsoft noted the lawsuit in their 2010 financial documents as a notable dent in their revenue.
MMO Fallout 