Last week, NCsoft sued its Korean partner and ally Netmarble over its new mobile game, Aden. Developed by an internal studio, Aden is a popular location in Lineage 2, and the mobile game even used item names and iconic phrases similar to those found in the popular MMORPG. Netmarble has claimed that no infringement occurred as Aden is a mobile game, not a PC online game like Lineage 2.
NCsoft and Netmarble bonded together when Nexon tried to start a hostile takeover of NCsoft back last year. The upcoming mobile action RPG, Lineage II: Revolution, is developed by Netmarble based on NCsoft’s world-renown Lineage 2 IP (legally signed). It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will affect relationship between the 2 companies, but a out-of-court settlement is always a possibility.
