The intense legal battle between Bethesda and Interplay over the rights to publish and develop a Fallout MMO has come to a close. The two parties have settled out-of-court, with Interplay agreeing to give up the rights in exchange for $2 million.
"While we strongly believe in the merits of our suits, we are pleased to avoid the distraction and expense of litigation while completely resolving all claims to the Fallout IP," said Zenimax CEO Robert Altman. Zenimax is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks.
"Fallout is an important property of ZeniMax and we are now able to develop future Fallout titles for our fans without third party involvement or the overhang of others' legal claims."
Both parties will pay their own legal costs, while Interplay will hold the rights to publish Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics until December 2013. After that date, the rights will revert to Bethesda.
Thus ends a legal battle that began in 2009, when Bethesda called foul on Interplay for not beginning work on the Fallout MMO.
[Via Gi.biz]
