Microsoft in legal battle over Halo 2 packaging

Limited and special editions of popular games are becoming commonplace these days with the lure of extras and fancy packaging to entice gamers to part with even more cash. Often consumers will be treated to concept artwork, posters, a DVD with interviews and production videos and all is wrapped up in a nice metal case. But it is this fancy packaging which is the reason why Microsoft is currently being sued by a Scandinavian company and Halo 2 is the game that is in the firing line.

Last year Halo 2 released two version of the game - the standard version and a limited collector’s edition which boasted a variety of extras as well as a nice metal case with the Halo 2 logo on the front. But in 2002, Scandinavian company Glud & Marstrand offered their services to Microsoft to make metal cases for games. According to reports in the European game press, Microsoft and Glud & Marstrand signed nondisclosure agreements (NDA’s) and exchanged information.

The suit claims that in 2003, Microsoft contacted Glud & Marstrand saying they were looking for a company to produce the metal cases for the Halo 2 collector’s edition release. Glud & Marstrand claim that Microsoft then approached a company called Viva with the same proposal even though they are a rival company and not part of the NDA signed in 2002.

For those who do not know what an NDA really is, here’s the breakdown for you. A nondisclosure agreement is defined as a legally enforceable agreement preventing present or past employees from disclosing commercially sensitive information belonging to the employer to any other party. To further clarify, by signing this agreement both Glud & Marstrand and Microsoft agreed not to share the information concerned with anyone else outside of the agreement - namely, in this case, Viva.

So according to reports, it has been alleged that Viva used technology which is the sole property of Glud & Marstrand to produce a case for Halo 2 for Microsoft and that both Microsoft and Viva are colluding with one another. Glud & Marstrand are suing for damages and requesting an injunction against both Viva and Microsoft.