Vous vous souvenez sans aucun doûte des litiges judiciaires qui opposaient Vivendi Universal Games et VALVe, concernant les droits de la license d'Half-Life 2, que Vivendi Universal Games réclamait (je résume un peu la chose).

Après 3 ans de procès (la justice, c'est lent...), c'est finalement VALVe qui obtient gain de cause, par un accord à l'amiable : VUG ne sera plus l'éditeur de Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero et Counter-Strike: Source, à partir du 31 Août 2005, ce qui n'a bien-sûr, AUCUN rapport avec l'actuelle baisse de prix que subissent Half-Life 2 et Counter-Strike : Condition Zero.

Les licenses Half-Life 2 distribuées par VUG à certains cyber-cafés sont également annulées, et aucune filale de a société ne pourra reprendre le flambeau, puisque c'est VALVe qui possèdera le droit exécutif.

Valve and Vivendi Universal Games Settle Lawsuit

Bellevue, WA and Los Angeles, CA – April 29, 2005 -- Valve and Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the settlement of a pending federal court lawsuit filed by Valve in August 2002. The parties have resolved their differences, and the settlement provides for the dismissal of all claims and counterclaims. Under the settlement agreement, VU Games will cease distribution of retail packaged versions of Valve’s games, including Half-Life®, Half-Life 2, Counter-StrikeTM, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Counter-Strike: Source, effective August 31, 2005.

Additionally, VU Games has notified distributors and cyber cafes that were licensed by VU Games that only Valve is authorized to distribute Valve games to cyber cafés and grant cyber café licenses. Cyber café operators that were licensed by VU Games have also been notified that any license agreement from Sierra Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games or any of their affiliates or distributors that may have granted rights to use Valve games in cyber cafés, whether written or oral, is terminated.