Zynga recently sued Vostu for copyright infringement, saying the Brazilian company blatantly ripped off their games. Vostu is now counter suing, alleging that Zynga has been copying games for years.
Zynga provided specific examples of the Vostu games Mini Fazenda, Megacity and Vostu Poker being similar to their Farmville, CityVille and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. Vostu doesn’t deny the similarities, but they claim Zynga didn’t create the elements that they’re bringing a suit over.
“The very elements of Zynga’s games that Zynga says Vostu copied are not protectable elements that Zynga originally created,” Vostu’s counterclaim alleges. “They are, and have been, common in other games before Zynga added the elements into its games.”
Vostu adds that there were several meetings between Zynga and Vostu executives in 2010 and 2011 and the infringement issues never came up then. Vostu alleges that on January 31, Zynga expressed interest in acquiring Vostu, not too hard to believe given their many other acquisitions.
Source: WSJ.com
