RollerCoaster Tycoon lawsuit reaches House of Lords

The Tycoon series is still going strong, with the latest additions Beer Tycoon and Fairy Godmother Tycoon set to be a hit when they are released. However, one of the series’ best-known titles, RollerCoaster Tycoon is under threat by a lawsuit which has now reached the highest court in the land (England, that is), the House of Lords. The lawsuit is between publishing giant Atari and Chris Sawyer, creator of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series relating to $4.8 million which Sawyer claims Atari owe him due to a breach of contract.

However, Atari also claim that Sawyer has breached their contract with him, claiming that Sawyer has broken an agreement by letting developer Frontier create a demo based on the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise. House of Lords Judge Lord Justice Chadwick said “This is one of those unusual cases in which a claim which the court considers has no real prospect of success (as the law stands) should, nevertheless, be permitted to go trial.”

So what does this mean? Well, two other cases in this area of law known as “inducement” are pending, and whatever happens in these cases, if the House of Lords decides to make a precedent then the RollerCoaster Tycoon case will follow these decisions.

However, if no precedents are made in the two pending cases then it is likely that the claim will be dropped. Take it from a Law student, if this case is dropped there will be an expensive bill for both Atari and Mr Sawyer – the House of Lords isn’t a cheap court to go to.

The Tycoon series is still going strong, with the latest additions Beer Tycoon and Fairy Godmother Tycoon set to be a hit when they are released. However, one of the series’ best-known titles, RollerCoaster Tycoon is under threat by a lawsuit which has now reached the highest court in the land (England, that is), the House of Lords. The lawsuit is between publishing giant Atari and Chris Sawyer, creator of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series relating to $4.8 million which Sawyer claims Atari owe him due to a breach of contract.

However, Atari also claim that Sawyer has breached their contract with him, claiming that Sawyer has broken an agreement by letting developer Frontier create a demo based on the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise. House of Lords Judge Lord Justice Chadwick said “This is one of those unusual cases in which a claim which the court considers has no real prospect of success (as the law stands) should, nevertheless, be permitted to go trial.”

So what does this mean? Well, two other cases in this area of law known as “inducement” are pending, and whatever happens in these cases, if the House of Lords decides to make a precedent then the RollerCoaster Tycoon case will follow these decisions.

However, if no precedents are made in the two pending cases then it is likely that the claim will be dropped. Take it from a Law student, if this case is dropped there will be an expensive bill for both Atari and Mr Sawyer – the House of Lords isn’t a cheap court to go to.