Novelist Sues Makers of Assassin’s Creed Video Game

By Jason Boog 

Novelist John L. Beiswenger (pictured, via) has sued video game maker Ubisoft, alleging that the popular Assassin’s Creed video game series infringed on the copyright of his Link science fiction series. The suit seeks between $1 million and $5 million in damages.

The complaint argues that the video game featured a device that allowed the character to experience old memories throughout history. The suit also alleges that the video game maker copied  the “spiritual and biblical tones” and “the battle between good and evil” featured in his novel series.

Here’s more from the complaint: “In Link, characters experience notable and accurate historical moments through their ancestors’ memories; this is a major plotline of Link. In the Assassin’s Creed video game series, characters experience various historically accurate times in history through their ancestor’s memories; this is a major plotline of the Assassin’s Creed video games and books.”

The complaint continued: “In Link, the Plaintiff’s plot includes the conception and creation of a device and process whereby ancestral memories can be accessed, recalled, relived, and re-experienced by the user … The Assassin’s Creed video game series’ plot is based on the Animus and Animus 2.0 device and process, through which the user accesses, relives, and re-experiences the memories of the user’s ancestor stored in the user’s DNA.”

The complaint concluded: “In Link, there are spiritual and biblical tones, with references made to Jesus and God, the Garden of Eden, and forbidden fruit. In the Assassin’s Creed video game series and books, there are spiritual and biblical tones, with references made to various Gods, Adam and Eve, and relics called Pieces of Eden.”