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Hasbro Interactive Files Suit Against eGames and GT Interactive
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 Hasbro Interactive, Inc., and its subsidiary Atari Interactive, Inc., have filed suit in federal court to enforce the companies' copyrights to some of the world's most popular computer and video games. The complaint alleges that eGames, GT Interactive and several others have blatantly copied games for which Hasbro Interactive owns the exclusive copyrights, including Centipede, Asteroids and Missile Command, among other well-known properties. In addition to eGames and GT Interactive, the complaint names 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," said Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry. "Consumers should be aware that the companies named in this suit are making games based on properties they don't own or control." Among the games in question are such titles as TetriMania and Mac-Man - obvious knock-offs of the well-known games Tetris and Pac-Man, which are both under license to Hasbro Interactive. In 1999, Hasbro Interactive released a new version of Tetris called The Next Tetris, and Hasbro Interactive plans to release the Pac-Man game for the PC later this year. "Games such as Tetris, Pac-Man and the Atari titles Missile Command and Centipede are immensely popular because their rightful owners and licensees have invested resources to develop and promote them," commented Dusenberry. Hasbro General Counsel Barry Nagler added, "content is Hasbro's core business and other companies don't have the right to profit from the success of our intellectual properties and our ability to make them successful. We're committed to protecting our brands and licenses to the full extent of the law." Filed this morning at the U.S. District Court in Boston, Massachusetts, the complaint seeks to require the defendants to cease production and distribution of, and to recall and destroy, the following games: "Intergalactic Exterminator," "3D Astro Blaster," "TetriMania," "TetriMania Master," "3D Maze Man," "Tunnel Blaster," "UnderWorld," "XTRIS," "Patriot Command," "HemiRoids," "Bricklayer," "3D TetriMadness," "Mac-Man," "3D Munch Man," and "3D Munch Man II." Hasbro Interactive is also seeking damages. Consumers questioning the legitimacy of a product should look for the Hasbro Interactive logo on game packages. A complete list of Hasbro Interactive games is available at www.hasbrointeractive.com. Hasbro Interactive acquired the rights to many Atari properties for the home consumer market in 1998. Since then, Hasbro Interactive has released new 3D interactive versions of Centipede and Missile Command, as well as a compilation of the original, 2D games, Atari Arcade Hits. Atari Interactive, Inc., is a subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, Inc. [Updated 2/07/2000]
  
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