Zynga responds to EA lawsuit with a counter claim of its own

Over a month after EA filed its copyright lawsuit against Zynga, the social gaming giant has responded with a suit of its own.

Not only is Zynga denying EA’s claim that The Ville is a blatant rip-off of The Sims Social, but it has also mustered some accusations of its own – namely that EA is guilty of violating anti-trust laws.

Zynga argues that any similarity between the two titles is purely down to the standardisation of what it describes as the life simulation genre”. Which was a genre created by The Sims, right?

It describes other elements of EA’s lawsuit as "redundant, immaterial, impertinent and/or scandalous matter that is unfairly prejudicial to Zynga”.

It also claims that EA boss John Riccitiello attempted to establish a no-hire” agreement with Zynga that would have prevented from hiring EA staff and that when this was refused the exec effectively declared war on the company.

EA, buoyed by the popular support its initial action has garnered, was bullish in its official reply.

"This is a predictable subterfuge aimed at diverting attention from Zynga’s persistent plagiarism of other artists and studios,” a statement read. Zynga would be better served trying to hold onto the shrinking number of employees they’ve got, rather than suing to acquire more."