Court sides with THQ against WWE
Publisher also announces a new studio in China to expand its operations in the region
THQ has announced that the Connecticut Superior Court has dismissed some of World Wrestling Entertainment's claims against it and Jakks Pacific - THQ's joint venture partner in the worldwide rights to publish and market WWE videogames.
The court dismissed claims made by WWE that the videogame licensing deal between the companies was void, based upon accusations that Jakks Pacific bribed WWE's licensing agent and another employee in pursuit of the deal.
"The Connecticut Superior Court's decision marks a significant milestone in resolving the WWE litigation," said James M Kennedy, executive vice president of business and legal affairs, THQ. "We believe the remaining claims are without merit and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously."
THQ further announced the opening of its new office in Shanghai, China, in order to pursue new opportunities and expand publishing partnerships in the region.
Within this fiscal year, THQ plans to launch Company of Heroes Online, a free-to-play, micro-transaction game, in collaboration with its China publishing partner Shanda Interactive Entertainment.
"The Asian markets represent a significant growth opportunity for THQ, particularly as we execute on our strategy to grow revenue from online gaming, an increasingly important segment for our industry," said Martin Good, senior vice president THQ Asia Pacific. "We look forward to continuing to build new publishing and development relationships in China to expand our presence in this important and fast growing gaming market."