ZeniMax Claims The Oculus Rift Uses Their VR Technology Without Permission
In a report today from The Wall Street Journal, Fallout and Elder Scrolls parent company ZeniMax is seeking compensation for the technology used in the Oculus Rift headset. ZeniMax claims that VR technology which was created by them and their employees (Some of whom work at Oculus now) is being used in Oculus Rift headsets without their approval. They are know claiming rights to the intellectual property that powers the headset.
Lawyers for ZeniMax have been sending letters to Facebook and Oculus, claiming that when id Software (Owned by ZeniMax) employee John Carmack left to join Oculus last summer, he 'improperly took ZeniMax's intellectual property with him to Oculus.' With this technology, Oculus VR grew into the company it is today within just two years.
A ZeniMax representative said that 'ZeniMax believes it is necessary to address these matters now and will take the necessary action to protect its interests.'
'It's unfortunate, but when there's this type of transaction, people come out of the woodwork with ridiculous and absurd claims. We intend to vigorously defend Oculus and its investors to the fullest extent.' an Oculus representive told The Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal points out that it is unknown if Facebook knew about ZeniMax seeking compensation from Oculus before acquiring them. This conflict of intellectual property dates back to 2012, when ZeniMax first sought compensation from Oculus, but negotiations became stalled and eventually ended all together. John Carmack and Palmer Luckey (Oculus creator) have been in contact since 2012 and ZeniMax claims that during this time their technology was introduced into the headset.
A full statement has been released by ZeniMax following The Wall Street Journal's report:
'ZeniMax confirms it recently sent formal notice of its legal rights to Oculus concerning its ownership of key technology used by Oculus to develop and market the Oculus Rift. ZeniMax's technology may not be licensed, transferred, or sold without ZeniMax Media's approval. ZeniMax's intellectual property rights arise by reason of extensive VR research and development works done over a number of years by John Carmack while a ZeniMax employee, and others. ZeniMax provided necessary VR technology and other valuable assistance to Palmer Luckey and other Oculus employees in 2012 and 2013 to make the Oculus Rift a viable VR product, superior to other VR market offerings.'
#ZeniMax Online Studios, #Oculus Rift
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