Viacom responds to STAR TREK lawsuit

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Source: Viacom Inc.

Yesterday we told you about Activision filing a breach of contract suit agaist Viacom, the parent company that owns Paramount's STAR TREK franchise. The video game manufacturer claims that Viacom has let the TREK franchise stagnate and fall into ruin, thus lowering Activision's ability to maximize its profits from developing and releasing STAR TREK video games.

Today Viacom fired back. The following press release just crossed the newswire:

"Viacom Consumer Products is disappointed by Activision's filing of a lawsuit yesterday in light of the fruitful collaboration the parties have enjoyed for the last nearly 5 years. During their collaboration, Activision has produced 14 Star Trek themed products, including a tie-in to the release of the 10th Star Trek film, NEMESIS, just last year. Activision's allegations are without merit; indeed, Activision appears to be trying to use the courts in an effort to renegotiate a deal it made in 1998 to secure the rights to the valued Star Trek franchise for interactive games.

"Star Trek continues to enjoy widespread popularity and success throughout the world. Activision's assertions and claims in its filing are manifestly unfounded as one can learn by simply turning on a television set or walking into a book, game or video store.

"Star Trek is perhaps the greatest intellectual property franchise ever to emerge from television. It began its run on television over 36 years ago and consists of 5 TV series with more than 650 episodes to date; ten feature films; over 48 million videocassettes sold; over a quarter billion dollars in DVD sales at retail in just the past two years; over 500 books published, as well as a themed attraction; traveling exhibitions and numerous licensed products. The current series, Enterprise, will be going into its 3rd season on UPN this fall. The various Star Trek series are licensed to more than 200 television stations throughout the country. Star Trek properties are shown regularly on the cable networks TNN, The Sci-Fi channel and Showtime, and are distributed in over 80 countries worldwide.

"Viacom Consumer Products is disappointed that Activision has elected this course and intends to hold it fully responsible for its action."

Activision has not released a follow-up comment to Viacom's rebuttal.



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