Activision-Blizzard Sued By California

[Rennadrel]

I wonder if Brack had a big buy out. I know its shocking but it's actually highly profitable to get fired as a CEO. Even more so usually when you "step down" on your "own accord". I had a CEO at my current company get fired, errr, step down "for what's best for the company" after he got caught cooking the books, AND, during the investigation into that got caught beating off to employee pictures while drinking whiskey from the bottle at the office during working hours. Yes, it was on camera and yes some employees witnessed it first.. hand.

For his sorry ass proformance and unbecoming sexual activity at work while intoxicated his punishment was a 9.2 million dollar buy out, legal fees covered, charges dropped, records sealed, and within 9 months of departure he was sitting in another CEO chair 3 states over at a very simular company.

Nepotism is as strong in the corporate world as it is in politics unfortunately, and a lot of these garbage people are never out of work long or permanently disbarred from their industries.

[Jtbrig7390]

And now there is a second lawsuit.

https://kotaku.com/activistion-blizz...-la-1847415904

TLDR

A class action lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court of Central California on behalf of investors alleges that Activision Blizzard’s intentional failure to disclose its ongoing problems with sexual harassment and discrimination artificially inflated the company’s stock value. In layman’s terms, if investors had known the extent of Activision Blizzard’s issues, they wouldn’t have invested in its stock.

I don't think Activision-Blizzard will be able to sweep this under the rug like Ubisoft did.

[TyrianFC]

I wonder if Brack had a big buy out. I know its shocking but it's actually highly profitable to get fired as a CEO. Even more so usually when you "step down" on your "own accord". I had a CEO at my current company get fired, errr, step down "for what's best for the company" after he got caught cooking the books, AND, during the investigation into that got caught beating off to employee pictures while drinking whiskey from the bottle at the office during working hours. Yes, it was on camera and yes some employees witnessed it first.. hand.

For his sorry ass proformance and unbecoming sexual activity at work while intoxicated his punishment was a 9.2 million dollar buy out, legal fees covered, charges dropped, records sealed, and within 9 months of departure he was sitting in another CEO chair 3 states over at a very simular company.

The idea that JAB was fired and kicked to the curb kicking and screaming... is a gamers fantasy.

As you pointed out - the reality is hes probably a bit butthurt publicly, but privately over the moon at the $$$ and cushy golden handshake he got. And he can go enjoy some extended vacation time while all this boils over, then popup somewhere else in an industry of his choice.

- - - Updated - - -

And now there is a second lawsuit.

https://kotaku.com/activistion-blizz...-la-1847415904

TLDR


I don't think Activision-Blizzard will be able to sweep this under the rug like Ubisoft did.

If it can be proven that Bobby Kotick himself knew about this in years past, but had a role in dismissing/downpaying etc, then shit could get really interesting....

However, Mr Kotick no doubt has a team of extremely expensive lawyers who will make sure he gets as much distance + plausible deniability as he needs, to not be personally implicated or exposed legally.

[Katchii]

who exactly was Alex Afrasiabi to Blizzard? He seemed important enough to have so many references and easter eggs to him in-game. Is he one of the main reasons WoW exists?

https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Alex_Afrasiabi

[Elegiac]

Well, the people working at HR are also workers.

That's nice. Still doesn't change the fact that HR as a department are not "workers" since again they fundamentally represent the employer's interests, and no amount of "but bad unions exist!" non sequiturs changes it either.

Stop getting triggered because people point out worker/employer relationships are inherently adversarial in a capitalist system. It's really gauche.

[uuuhname]

And now there is a second lawsuit.

https://kotaku.com/activistion-blizz...-la-1847415904

TLDR


I don't think Activision-Blizzard will be able to sweep this under the rug like Ubisoft did.

saw that and man this is much more damaging to those in charge than the CA lawsuit by a country mile lol.

[Elegiac]

saw that and man this is much more damaging to those in charge than the CA lawsuit by a country mile lol.

Yep, this is Enron level shit now.

[Verdugo]

Chain of events that can end in headlines like this should not be possible.

[YUPPIE]

do you people actually want Blizzard as a whole to go under with all their IPs, or do you just want a reform? The vigorous fervor people have with wanting more exciting bad news headlines makes it seem like the former. And that's obviously not just for this site, but everywhere right now.

[Endus]

do you people actually want Blizzard as a whole to go under with all their IPs, or do you just want a reform? The vigorous fervor people have with wanting more exciting bad news headlines makes it seem like the former. And that's obviously not just for this site, but everywhere right now.

You say that like Blizzard going under would necessarily be a "bad thing".

If they caused enough harm that lawsuits bankrupt them, they deserve to be shut down.

And if you're concerned about their IP, don't be. That's an asset. Any IP that's profitable will get sold to another company. Blizzard shutting down wouldn't be the end of Warcraft, it would just mean some other big developer would take over Warcraft's IP.

[YUPPIE]

You say that like Blizzard going under would necessarily be a "bad thing".

it would be a bad thing if most of your youth was spent carefree on their products, and you are the sort of person to feel conflicted rather than raising your pitchfork immediately

[Elegiac]

it would be a bad thing if most of your youth was spent carefree on their products, and you are the sort of person to feel conflicted rather than raising your pitchfork immediately

The answer to which becomes "grow up". Human welfare is a little more important than maintaining an illusion.

[Endus]

it would be a bad thing if most of your youth was spent carefree on their products

Why?

Seriously, I don't get your point, at all. The innocence of youth is predicated on ignorance. It's something you grow out of. I used to really enjoy Piers Anthony's fantasy and sci-fi until I got older and started noticing all the creepy-ass pedo shit throughout (it's less obvious when you're a 12 year old and a 12 year old character is being sexualized; you don't connect the author's predilections to the story. Growing up and learning about this meant I was pissed I was ever a fan of his, not that it's a "bad thing" that I learned the truth.

[YUPPIE]

Why?

Seriously, I don't get your point, at all. The innocence of youth is predicated on ignorance. It's something you grow out of.

you have a point, but in the same sense anime is commercially thriving despite being immature and often paedo shit like you mentioned, you should understand why I feel sort of sad here.

I just don't want to see the IPs go under or servers shut down. A lot of my game time is still spent with Hearthstone, OW, and sometimes HOTS.

[Endus]

you have a point, but in the same sense anime is commercially thriving despite being immature and often paedo shit like you mentioned, you should understand why I feel sort of sad here.

I just don't want to see the IPs go under or servers shut down. A lot of my game time is still spent with Hearthstone, OW, and sometimes HOTS.

What you're implicitly saying, here, is you want women to continue being victimized, if that's the price necessary for you to play a few games online.

[Jtbrig7390]

you have a point, but in the same sense anime is commercially thriving despite being immature and often paedo shit like you mentioned, you should understand why I feel sort of sad here.

I just don't want to see the IPs go under or servers shut down. A lot of my game time is still spent with Hearthstone, OW, and sometimes HOTS.

People's lives matter more than you playing hearthstone. Its called giving a shit about others and not focusing on yourself.

[downnola]

If it came to it, Activision would sell off Blizzard and it's IPs in a very messy divorce. So fear not, the shitty MTG clone isn't going anywhere.

[Mayhem]

Human welfare is a little more important than maintaining an illusion.

If you'd turn that around you'd have a pretty appropriate saying for the statue of liberty plaque, it's also a lot shorter so most people will remember it instead of the old one.

[Belize]

What you're implicitly saying, here, is you want women to continue being victimized, if that's the price necessary for you to play a few games online.

Are you remotely surprised, when some of the first questions about the lawsuit were "But how will this impact patch releases".

There's a sizable portion of the population who would happily turn a blind eye to slavery if it meant they get what they want. Fuck, it's happening now with slave wages being paid to manufacture most things sold in the U.S.

[YUPPIE]

Are you remotely surprised, when some of the first questions about the lawsuit were "But how will this impact patch releases".

There's a sizable portion of the population who would happily turn a blind eye to slavery if it meant they get what they want. Fuck, it's happening now with slave wages being paid to manufacture most things sold in the U.S.

i mean im not a successful player, but if a 10+ year raiding veteran worried about where the game and his shit was potentially heading, there's nothing wrong with that. It's the same if you dedicated your life to Diablo. People don't want to lose their things, so hopefully the servers and IP don't go anywhere