Quebec court rules in favor of THQ, ends Ubisoft injunction [Joystiq]

[DP ServBot]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/ubiemployeeretention.jpg (http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/quebec-court-rules-in-favor-of-thq-ends-ubisoft-injunction/)
Ubisoft may want THQ to stop poaching its employees, but the Quebec Court of Appeal for the District of Montreal doesn't seem to mind. THQ issued a statement (http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1640592&highlight=) this afternoon declaring that the court "unanimously" ruled in its favor, allowing the company to hire Ubisoft employees who were "to THQ's knowledge bound by a non-compete provision."

After THQ hired away ex-Assassin's Creed project lead Patrice Désilets to head up a "new IP" (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/patrice-desilets-to-head-up-new-ip-at-thq-montreal/) at its Montreal-based studio, VP of Core Games Danny Bilson told us (http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/patrice-desilets-bringing-key-members-of-ubisoft-to-thq-montre/) he planned on bringing more folks over from Ubisoft's nearby studio. This, among other things, initially precipitated an injunction, and eventually a messy court battle. As it turns out, though, Quebec's Court of Appeal sided with THQ on the grounds that the company "was not bound by any non-competition restrictions, and was therefore free to solicit any Ubisoft employee," so long as THQ didn't engage in "unfair competition." So much for that non-compete clause, eh?http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)Quebec court rules in favor of THQ, ends Ubisoft injunction (http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/quebec-court-rules-in-favor-of-thq-ends-ubisoft-injunction/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).




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[skaar]

Non-compete clauses don't matter anywhere not america, and barely at all there.

Capitalism, baby.

[kedawa]

Patrice Désilets
How exactly do you pronounce that?

[Lady Jaye]

Actually, it's Patrice Désilets

It's prononced Day-zee-lay.

I have a friend who works for THQ Montreal, and the atmosphere there is really good. He can't compare with Ubisoft Montreal, but then he used to work for EA Montreal/EA mobile.

[Rickstilwell1]

Two mediocre companies fighting over mediocre employees that make mediocre games. Yawn.

[substantial_snake]

Two mediocre companies fighting over mediocre employees that make mediocre games. Yawn.

Somehow I know one particular title I like will prove me wrong but Ubisoft has always been "that" company to me. I honestly can't think of a game they made that really hooked me or made me think that they had the best series/title of a particular genera. (to be fair I have yet to play an assassins creed game, but from what I've seen I really haven't been compelled to do so)

THQ gets points for publishing the original red faction, and a few other random titles.

[crazyjackcsa]

UbiSoft mediocre? You may think so, but it you look at all the games they've released the last two generations, you'd be in the minority.

Really quick: Assassins Creed, Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, Rayman, Scott Pilgrm, Red Steel 2, Tom Clancy everything.

[Baloo]

UbiSoft mediocre? You may think so, but it you look at all the games they've released the last two generations, you'd be in the minority.

Really quick: Assassins Creed, Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, Rayman, Scott Pilgrm, Red Steel 2, Tom Clancy everything.

Yeah, Ubisoft has some pretty well-selling franchises under it's belt.

As for THQ...all I can really think of them for is licensed shovelware garbage for the most part.

[kupomogli]

As for THQ...all I can really think of them for is licensed shovelware garbage for the most part.

There's Saints Row the Third. That's a pretty good game. Otherwise, I entirely agree with this statement.

[Colorado Rockies]

There's Saints Row the Third. That's a pretty good game. Otherwise, I entirely agree with this statement.

Saints Row the Third has been my favorite game this year. WWE 12 isn't half bad either.

[cheaterdragon1]

Is anyone surprised, Quebec is a strange place.

[Parodius Duh!]

Two mediocre companies fighting over mediocre employees that make mediocre games. Yawn.

Quote For Truth. THQ and Ubisoft crap makes me yawn.

[Parodius Duh!]

UbiSoft mediocre? You may think so, but it you look at all the games they've released the last two generations, you'd be in the minority.

Really quick: Assassins Creed, Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, Rayman, Scott Pilgrm, Red Steel 2, Tom Clancy everything.

Personally I think all of those games are crap that I would NEVER play.

[Tupin]

Saint's Row is one of the only good games THQ have, and it was made by Avolition. They also shut down their division that made de Blob, so...

Ubisoft has its moments, but they seriously need to release I am Alive and Beyond Good and Evil 2. I did like Rayman Origins a lot, though.

[megasdkirby]

I miss the good old days of THQ, with quality AAA titles like Wayne's World, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Home Alone...excellent titles.

[crazyjackcsa]

Personally I think all of those games are crap that I would NEVER play.

Then you're the only one.

[substantial_snake]

Then you're the only one.

I wouldn't say that, of all the games you've listed the only ones I've been remotely interested in are the Assassins Creed titles. The most recent Ubisoft games I've played were the H.A.W.K.S. series and they really only made me thing of how much more I enjoyed the older Ace Combat games.

[JSoup]

Then you're the only one.

I don't know, that list you posted only had one game I've ever been interested in playing, Scott Pilgrim, and I only bought that I sale via PSN+, with someone else's money.