WWE Sues THQ - Claims Unauthorized Sublicensing

The WWE filed a lawsuit against THQ on October 12th claiming games using the WWE trademark were improperly sold in Japan and Asia. The WWE is seeking a declaration that it has the right to terminate its license agreement with THQ.

WWE claims that THQ sublicensed out rights to the game that they were not granted the right to sublicense. Indeed, WWE claims that the license explicitly precludes sublicensing without written consent from the WWE which such consent was not sought nor received.

WWE claims that THQ sublicensed rights to Yukes (partly owned by THQ) and that Yukes paid royalties directly to THQ that should have been paid to WWE.

THQ, for its part, says that WWE has been aware aware of and consented to the manner of distribution it uses in Japan.

Sources: Gamasutra | Pro-G | GameSpot 1 | *GameSpot 2 | Gamers.com | XBoxic | THQ Press Release

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